In this role, you will be answering 999 calls from members of the public, other healthcare professionals or colleagues from blue-light services. You will ask them a series of structured questions about the condition of the patient and then assist a dispatch officer to decide the most appropriate way to respond.
Where appropriate, you will provide emergency medical advice over the telephone such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instructions, so that the patient’s condition can be managed before help arrives on the scene.
How to become an... Emergency Medical Dispatcher (999 Call Handler)
GCSE (or equivalent) in English— Grade C or above / Grade 4 – 9
Experience of working with the general public
Experience of working with computers
Experience of communicating with a wide range of people
Punctual
Resilient
Reliable
Friendly
Caring
Adhere to EMAS Values of Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, Contribution and Competence
11 – 12 weeks classroom and mentor training. Within this time, you will work some weekend shifts in the Emergency Operations Centre.
Band 3 + unsocial shift allowance
Up to 37.5 hours per week, full time hours while in training.
Dispatch Officer
As a dispatch officer you receive details of 999 calls requesting an ambulance on a computer screen. The information will have been collected by an emergency medical dispatcher. Using your training to assess the type of emergency, you’ll determine what response is needed and, if appropriate, send the nearest ambulance, fast response car, community first responder or even air ambulance helicopter to the scene.
Clinical Assessment Team
As a Clinical Assessment Team (CAT) advisor you will be a registered or specialist paramedic, nurse, midwife or mental health nurse. You will provide medical triage for all categories of calls received in our Emergency Operations Centre. The aim is to ensure all patients receive the most appropriate care for their medical need.
Not all patients who ring 999 require an emergency ambulance to take them to hospital; as a CAT advisor you will help them access the most appropriate service.
You will also provide clinical or alternative service advice to our ambulance crews and control centre dispatchers.
