The Allied Health workforce is broad and diverse and includes health practitioners who work autonomously and in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary teams. 

In the UK, the Allied Health sector is set to grow into the future due to advances in technology and increasing demand for healthcare services, including holistic healthcare approaches. The sector encompasses many professional pathways and opportunities for career development and specialisation. See our list of job roles for more information on various Allied Health professions

Paramedics provide rapid response and emergency health care in the out-of-hospital environment. They are first responders to medical emergencies, often working without supervision and making critical decisions. They assess, stabilise and manage patients, transport them to health facilities, and provide patient records/handover for further care. They work with emergency care assistants or technicians and within the wider multi-disciplinary emergency healthcare team. Paramedics have completed an approved degree in paramedic science, or an apprenticeship degree. Paramedics can progress in their careers to become a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) paramedic, a specialist paramedic in mental health, an advanced paramedic in critical care, or a consultant paramedic.  

Other roles in the Ambulance Service include call handlers, emergency medical dispatchers, emergency care assistants or technicians, and Patient Transport Service (PTS) drivers, who provide operational support within their teams. As for Paramedics, these roles involve emergency and stressful situations, technical skills, teamwork, and communication. These roles don’t require professional qualifications and often offer apprenticeship, on-the-job training and career progression opportunities.