Paramedic-led acute home visiting services in primary care

Abstract

Home visiting is traditionally carried out by GPs but it is becoming increasingly difficult for GPs to do, and many doctors want it removed from their contract. This is opening up a space for the paramedic profession, with paramedics carrying out home visits and designing future primary care services. Paramedics working within primary care can possess the knowledge, leadership and complex skills needed for home visiting, and some are independent prescribers; they can lead acute home visiting services (AHVS). AHVS require effective triage and access to electronic patient records, are underpinned by robust clinical governance and engage in clinical audits. Future primary care paramedic services could include online, video and face-to-face consultations, care home ward rounds, remote triage and home visiting. However, paramedics' contribution to general practice has not been fully evaluated and it may take time for this to become a norm. Regardless, primary care paramedicine has an opportunity to be innovative, shaking off risk-averse protocols for more enlightened practices, and lead the profession.