Prehospital medical care is a challenging field and is becoming a medical speciality in its own right. To get involved you will need training, experience, kit, and a secure clinical governance framework within which to practice.

BASICS offer specific training in prehospital care, and there are other courses available. Some courses offer more practical training than others. You can't learn everything in the classroom and from books, and training is different from experience (you can get experience without being trained). Some BASICS schemes, helicopter services, and other organisations are able to offer training in the field. It is likely that opportunities for specific training in prehospital care will increase as the speciality develops.

Experience might be gained by riding along with paramedics, working at events within experienced teams, or through some prehospital schemes.

Once you have adequate training and experience you may be able to start practising more independantly. This is best done through organisations which have well developed clinical governance frameworks. Local BASICS schemes are one option.

PLIMS is currently unable to provide structured training in prehospital care, and we only accept trained and experienced doctors as full members. However, we are keen to support doctors trying to develop their interest in prehospital care. Some of our training sessions are suitable in this regard. You would need to meet the criteria for associate membership.

The various BASICS schemes in the SW may be able to offer some clinical governance support to practising immediate care doctors who are without a "parent" organisation. Please contact the scheme that covers your area.