Our control rooms are also known as Emergency Operations Centres (or EOCs). As the hub of the ambulance service, they are a fast-paced and exciting environment.
On average our Emergency Operations Centres receive a new 999 call every 25 seconds.
Staff in our EOCs are responsible for three critically important areas of the service:
Emergency Medical Advisors - Answering 999 calls and providing immediate emergency medical advice.
Clinical Assessment Hub - Registered clinicians who triage complex 999 calls and arrange appropriate help.
Dispatch Team - Dispatching ambulances and other resources to people who need emergency medical help.
Emergency Medical Advisor (999 call handler)
Our Emergency Medical Advisors (EMAs; formerly known as Emergency Medical Dispatchers) answer 999 calls from members of the public and other emergency services.
Using a computer system called NHS Pathways, you will ask the caller a series of structured questions about the clinical condition of the patient. The information you record will help a Dispatcher to allocate an appropriate response (for instance, an ambulance or a fast response car).
In some cases, you will provide emergency life-saving medical advice over the phone, such as instructing the caller in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This helps to manage the patient’s condition until help arrives.
Apply to be an Emergency Medical Advisor at EMAS
We regularly recruit Emergency Medical Advisors to our Control Rooms in Nottingham and Lincoln.
Check our current vacancies.
GCSE (or equivalent) in English - Grade C or above / Grade 4 – 9
You do not need any previous healthcare or medical training. All new EMAs receive full training before commencing their role.
To be an Emergency Medical Advisor, you should:
Have experience of working with the general public and a wide range of people.
Be confident using a computer.
Be resilient, reliable, friendly, caring.
Be committed to providing excellent healthcare and enjoy working with people.
You do not need any medical or healthcare experience to train to be an Emergency Medical Advisor. You will receive full training and mentoring, including 11-12 weeks of classroom learning. Within this time, you will work some weekend shifts taking 999 calls supported by a mentor.
All applications for jobs at East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust must be submitted via Trac. Sign in or create an account to get started.
"Working at EMAS feels like you are part of a family. People here always stop and speak to you and are there for you if you need help, even if you’ve never spoken to them before.
My friends always ask how I manage the emergency calls when people are in the greatest need, but these are the jobs that I love. I love that when I answer the call I am the first responder on any scene and am there to help."
Niamh Butler - Emergency Medical Advisor
Clinical Advisor
Clinical Advisors work within the Clinical Assessment Hub. They are registered healthcare professionals, including nurses and paramedics. They provide telephone triage for clinically complex cases received via 999 calls.
As a Clinical Advisor, you will triage the health and clinical needs of each patient using both your clinical knowledge and our specialised decision-support software. You will support patients with access to medication, at-home healthcare, and arrange appropriate additional care.
Apply to be a Clinical Advisor at EMAS
We are advertising vacancies for Clinical Advisors throughout summer 2025. The roles will be posted on our Current Vacancies page on a rolling basis.
Current valid HCPC or NMC registration
Essential criteria
2 years post registration experience
Willingness to complete NHS Pathways and/or PACCs training
Desirable criteria
NHS pathways or PACCs trained
Telephone consultation experience
2 years experience of working in an emergency/urgent care setting in the last 3 years
All applications for jobs at East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust must be submitted via Trac. Sign in or create an account to get started.
“Every day presents unique challenges. The dynamic nature of our work allows us to truly connect with our patients, guiding them to the appropriate care they need. I appreciate the opportunity to be a vital part of their journey and to contribute positively to their experiences.
I am grateful for the flexible shifts and rotas that have seamlessly integrated into my family life as a single mother. The adjustments made when I first started have continued to accommodate my needs, allowing me to thrive both personally and professionally. Unlike traditional 12-hour shifts, our schedule includes a variety of time slots for nurses and paramedics, making it easier to balance work and family commitments.
The training and support I have received have been nothing short of exceptional. This environment encourages learning and growth. In alignment with the NMC Code of Conduct, I have participated in comprehensive training that ensures my skills are always up to date."
Cyndrella Mlalazi - Clinical Advisor and Registered Nurse
Dispatch Officer
Dispatchers are responsible for dispatching ambulances and other resources to incidents (including Urgent Care, Community First Responders, Air Ambulance Teams, and Hazardous Area Response Team). They work closely with Emergency Medical Advisors and CAT. They also liaise with ambulance crews and other emergency services.
You will need to think logically and tactically as you manage a workload that changes by the second. You must be able to multitask and manage tasks with competing priorities. You could be assigning an ambulance to a patient who has fallen or sending multiple resources to a cardiac arrest.
We advertise vacancies for Dispatch Officers on a need-by-need basis.
GCSE grades C/4-9 or equivalent in Maths and English
Competent in the use of IT systems
Customer service experience from a telephone or face to face role
Ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities
Good written and verbal communication skills
Ability to listen and record information accurately
"When someone calls 999, my colleagues and I are working behind the scenes to allocate resources to respond – we could be sending multiple resources to an incident with lots of casualties, or a fast response vehicle to an elderly person who is having difficulty breathing.
We’re one of the links in the chain of people who work together to save lives. It’s my job to make sure help reaches the patient as quickly as possible."
