Introducing Advanced Paramedics into the rural general practice team in Ireland – general practitioners attitudes

Introduction: As Ireland’s population increases and chronic disease becomes more prevalent, demand on limited  general practice services will increase. Nursing roles within general practice are now considered to be standard, yet  alternative allied health professional roles are under explored within an Irish context. Allied health personnel such as  Advanced Paramedics (APs) may have the capability to provide support to general practice. Aim: To explore General Practitioners’ (GPs) attitudes and opinions of integrating Advanced Paramedics (APs) into  rural general practice in Ireland. Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed methodology was adopted. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to a purposeful sample of GPs attending a rural conference followed by semi-structured interviews. Data was  recorded and transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Results: In total n=27 GPs responded to the survey and n=13 GPs were interviewed. The majority of GPs were  familiar with APs and were receptive to the concept of closely collaborating with APs within a variety of settings  including out-of-hours services, home visits, nursing homes and even roles within the general practice surgery. Conclusion: General Practitioner and Advanced Paramedic clinical practice dovetail within many facets of primary  care and emergency care. GPs recognise that current rural models are unsustainable and realise the potential of integrating APs into the general practice team to help support and sustain the future of rural general practice services in  Ireland. These interviews provided an exclusive, detailed insight into the world of general practice in Ireland that has  not been previously documented in this way.