Preparing non-medical clinicians to deliver GP out-of-hours services: lessons learned from an innovative approach

Despite the need to develop a non-medical out-of-hours (OOHs) workforce to address increasing healthcare demands and to support a strained GP workforce, there is no consensus on the required training and clinical competencies needed for nurses and paramedics to be developed as safe OOH practitioners. This paper presents the development and evaluation of one programme delivered in 2017 to paramedics seeking to work in OOHs services. Details of the course delivery are outlined and the mixed-methods evaluation presented. Following successful university ethical approval, student and staff experiences were reviewed through interviews, questionnaires and graded feedback of completed electronic patient case records. The findings provided useful learning that can be transferred to other organisations seeking to develop such training. In particular, the findings suggest the course was able to provide the students with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become safe practitioners in the OOHs service. Challenges in course delivery were highlighted. It was suggested that course organisation, duration and scope require careful consideration to enable students to complete and practise successfully.