A Realist Evaluation of Paramedics Working in General Practice (READY)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Realist Evaluation of Paramedics Working in General Practice: An assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness (READY Paramedics)
IRAS ID
279490
Contact name
Sarah Voss
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of England
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
General practices are under increasing pressure. Doctor shortages mean general practices are using other health professionals for some tasks. Paramedics are one profession employed alongside doctors in general practice. However, we do not know if this is safe for patients or cost effective for the NHS. Research is needed urgently to inform national policy.
Paramedics’ roles in general practice vary across England. As different practices have different problems to solve; one way of using paramedics may work for one but not another. Paramedics may do home visits; same-day clinics or telephone appointments. Some only see certain patients (excluding babies or pregnant women) whereas others do see these patients.
These differences mean it is impossible to simply compare practices employing paramedics with those that do not, to examine differences in care and how much it costs. We are therefore using an ‘Realist Evaluation’ approach to consider what works best, for whom in different circumstances.
The study is in two parts, WP1 and WP2. WP1 will develop a set of ‘programme theories’ describing ideas about what causes particular things to happen when an intervention such as paramedics working in general practice is initiated.
We want to understand why certain models may work better in different situations and for different people thus in WP2, this study, these programme theories will guide a detailed investigation of general practices.
Our detailed investigation will focus on 24 practices across England, including those with a range of different models of paramedics working in general practice and those with no paramedics.
Our findings will provide a better understanding of how and why paramedics are best used in general practice under different circumstances, and the costs involved. This will have the potential to improve patient safety and experience and inform local and national funding decisions about NHS services.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0275
Date of REC Opinion
30 Dec 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion