Internationalising paramedic practice

‘It's been one of the best experiences of my life.’

This was a comment recently made to me by one of our final year paramedic students following an experiential placement in the Schleswig-Holstein region of Northern Germany. I felt an immense sense of pride and satisfaction that this experience had such a huge impact on someone's education and professional career—it confirmed to me that the internationalisation of the paramedic profession can only be a good thing.

This made me reflect on my own journey—both as a paramedic and an academic—and the various experiences I have enjoyed throughout my career. After 3 years as an emergency medical technician (EMT), I joined the paramedic profession a relatively short 12 years ago, and it has changed significantly in the past 10–15 years. From initial treat-and-transfer of patients to hospital, paramedics are now providing care in a multitude of settings. Certainly, in the UK, paramedics are employed within the wider health and social care environment, with further roles developing on a regular basis.