The first International Paramedics Day on 8th July 2022 provided a timely opportunity to celebrate the diversity and inclusivity of the paramedic profession in the United Kingdom (UK), also highlighting many achievements of the profession and paramedics. Over recent years, ambulance and health services have welcomed international paramedics into their workforce, bringing a new perspective of knowledge, skills and approaches in paramedic and emergency/urgent care. Historically, wider health professions have recognised the importance of international professionals in the development of workforce supply, and their positive contributions to the profession, organisations, teams and, ultimately, patient care. However, increased recruitment of international paramedics requires regulators, commissioners and providers to continually review their approach and work diligently to ensure professional recognition, support and team integration.
High vacancy levels within the profession, with paramedics leaving or moving to opportunities across wider health services, alongside lengthier degree-level qualifications, and a system with ever-increasing demand further contribute to the complexities of attracting, developing and retaining paramedics. Competitive job opportunities and reported burnout (Beldon and Garside, 2022) have also led to some providers losing more paramedics than can be recruited. International recruitment provides a solution to many challenges; however, paramedics are people first and transition to UK practice requires careful consideration, a commitment to pastoral care, and practice and cultural adaptation, at a challenging time in healthcare.
Moriarty et al (2022) summarise some key findings on international recruitment, including that data are not readily accessible and, in some cases, not collected at all. Generating evidence on international recruitment is challenging as there is currently no agreed-upon standardised approach regarding what data are collected and accessed. Similarly to internationally educated paramedics in the UK, the number of paramedics recruited and commencing employment versus those who leave providers or the profession are unknown, making it difficult to evaluate the success of international recruitment.
Such recruitment can also be expensive, with comparative estimates of up to as much as £10 000 per international professional, although based on nursing (Bond et al, 2020). Employers considering recruiting international paramedics need to evaluate the full cost, including agency fees, advertising, a complex qualification verification process and the length of professional registration and organisational adaptation.
A good starting point is to engage with a group of international paramedics about how they might best be supported as they transition to UK practice. Some positive interventions relate to assistance with initial accommodation, navigating the setting up of accounts, having a period of structured professional adaptation, pastoral support and linking with a named mentor. Professional recognition of previous development is also vitally important to making paramedics feel valued. When recruitment is informed, ethical and sustainable, outcomes are positive and the opportunity to share developments within the global profession is worthy of commitment and further research.