Practice News

Paramedic Profiles – John Perks

John Perks FDSc (Open)Paramedic Science, PD Cert (Advanced Paramedic Practice), MCPara.

Personal summary

I started my career in the NHS working for London Ambulance service NHS Trust, initially employed as an Apprentice Paramedic whilst I completed my foundation degree in paramedic science. I qualified and registered as a paramedic in August 2017. I worked as part of a double crewed ambulance response for about 18 months before moving on and working as an operational placement mentor. This involved supervising new and returning members of staff in a period of transition before going onto frontline duties. After this I spent 3 years as a solo responder on a fast response car in Central London attending to the sickest patients in the capital as part of a specialist unit.

It was during this time I started to work towards advanced practice with a view to moving into primary care. I was approached by Dr Chandan via a mutual friend to continue my career progression and clinical knowledge at Aylesford Medical centre to which I was a patient at the time. I was aware of the recent struggles the practice had been through and after meeting with Dr Chandan was enthused to try and help him improve the service to the residents of Aylesford.

A day in the life of a paramedic at Aylesford Medical Centre

My day typically starts at morning clinic at 0800 in the morning, however on one day a week I start at 0930. Morning clinics consist of a mix of telephone consultations and face to face appointments. In between seeing and speaking to patients I go through discharge letters, communication from consultants from secondary care and hospitals, viewing and reporting on lab results and completing any referral documents on the patients seen so far. After lunch I do my home visits before afternoon clinic begins at around 1500. This is a similar set up to the morning clinics. Afternoon clinic finishes at 1830 and I complete the last of the documentation and referral forms and complete any tasks left open. On the day that I start at 0930 I complete the enhanced access phone calls which are offered twice weekly and finish at 2000 in the evening,

Qualifications

• FDSc Paramedic Practice• Paramedic Practice Educator (Lvl 6)• PG Certificate in advanced practice• Cardiology in out of hospital practice (lvl 7) • Advanced Patient assessment and clinical reasoning (Lvl 7)• Minor Illness and Minor Injury

Health Care and Professions CouncilRegistration

• PA43180

Work history summary – very brief

British Army (Corps of Royal Engineers)

1st Apr 2002 – Nov 2011

Cel-F-Solar

Oct 2011- Dec 2012

Apprentice Paramedic (London Ambulance Service)

7th Jan 2013 – 9 Aug 2017

Paramedic (London Ambulance Service)

9 Aug 2017 – 02 July 2023

Paramedic Practitioner Aylesford Medical Centre

03 July 2023 – Present