ParAmedic delivery of end-of-life care (ParAid NI)
Research Project Title
Perceptions and experiences of providing end of life care amongst the Northern Ireland paramedic workforce
KeyWords
Paramedic, end-of-life, questionnaire, Northern Ireland
Challenge
Many people, who are receiving palliative and end-of-life care, spend their last year of life at home and express a wish to die at home. During this period, families may need to phone help using emergency number 999. The paramedics who attend may treat the patient at home, or the decision will be made to take them to the emergency department in a hospital. However, we do not know from the paramedic’s perspective, their current practices, problems, or solutions to improve care delivery.
Research Project aims and methods
This study aims to explore the current end-of-life care practices of paramedics in Northern Ireland, identify their challenges, and understand their preferences for changes in care and service provision.
The research will survey paramedic staff, who work in Northern Ireland via their employing Trust. All Northern Ireland Ambulance Service paramedics will be invited to take part in the study. A validated questionnaire, previously used to assess England’s paramedic workforce (developed as part of MC-21-802), has been adapted for a Northern Ireland context.
Public, patient and personal involvement (PPI)
Prior to the development of the proposal, Felicity Hasson (PI) consulted with trainee General Practice and Emergency Nurses Advanced Nurse Practitioners (n=4) and emergency practitioner (n=1) to explore acceptability. All confirmed the value of the project but emphasised that this represented a starting point to enhance care.
Developing the protocol, The Research and Development Manager from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service shared this application with six members from their Research Public Involvement Committee – PPI during October 2024. This group represents a mixture of professional and lay volunteers. Members reported that the research question was important from a patient and caregiver perspective and easily understood.
Across the study duration, PPI representatives will guide the study development. The paramedic from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the Member of the Order of the British Empire have agreed to play an active role in the study sitting on the research advisory group. PPI will help identify further research questions from the data analysis.
Timeline
April 2025 – December 2025
Research Team
Dr Felicity Hasson, School of Nursing and Paramedic Science, Ulster University
Dr Natasha Campling, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton
Dr Paul Slater, School of Nursing and Paramedic Science, Ulster University
Julia Wolfe, Research Manager, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service
Christine Irvine, Senior Policy Manager, Marie Curie
Professor Sonja McIlfatrick, School of Nursing, Ulster University
Jade Hunter, Paramedic, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service
Mrs. Margaret Grayson, Member of the Order of the British Empire
Funding & Support
Funder: Marie Curie UK
Research project outputs and impact:
The findings of ParAID Project will provide a Northern Ireland profile of the paramedic workforce’s perceptions of current practice and potential solutions to improve end-of-life care. Results may also help identify areas to enhance the interface between Northern Ireland Ambulance Service paramedic workforce with parts of the health and social care system in which palliative patients receive care. Such data will therefore provide meaningful clinical and service information that can be used to support intervention development and service re-design if required.