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Can a type 1 diabetic become a paramedic

JJWM said:
cugila said:
However....the bad news is that as 99.9% of the Ambulance Service Providers require a Paramedic to be able to drive first response Ambulances then that is where it all falls down.
They do not employ Diabetic's who are Insulin Dependent. End of story !
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I'm sorry but this is wrong. Diabetics are now assessed individually and CAN become paramedics and drive if approved by GP

http://www.1cor.com/1158/?form_1155.replyids=141

I know this because i'm trying to become a paramedic myself in the future. I'm already with St John Ambulance and from there move up to NHS Ambulance Service. I have contacted West Midlands Ambulance service who have said I CAN become a paramedic.
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Hi.
The answer was in response to someone who wanted to be a Paramedic AND drive frontline vehicles.. I think you may have taken the answer out of context ?

If it is now wrong and things are now different then I am happy to correct the information in a further post, however, the link you posted is from 2004 ?? The information I posted was from 2010 and verified. It does say 99.9% and also clarifies the position further on in the thread.

Do you have any official information regarding this as what you have posted is so far all anecdotal and NOT official. At the time I posted the information it was correct and from several verifiable sources which is made clear in my other posts.

If that position has now changed then we would like to see an official link to prove that. Do you have one ?

Merry Christmas BTW........ :)
 
In order to drive an ambulance, whether emergency or non-emergency, you will need a full, manual driving licence. Ambulance services use vehicles of different gross weights and staff will be required to hold a driving licence with the appropriate classifications to enable them to drive ambulance service vehicles in that particular service.

Driving Emergency Vehicles
Whilst registration with the Health Profession Council as a paramedic does not rely on the ability to drive an emergency vehicle, most NHS Ambulance Trusts (who are by far the largest employer of paramedics), will require you to be able to drive a frontline ambulance under emergency conditions. This will usually require having category C1 on your driving licence (Vehicles weighing between 3,500 kg and 7,500 kg). In order to drive under emergency conditions staff are also required to pass an emergency driving course, commonly of three to four weeks duration, which NHS Trusts often provide in-house, (although there also are some limited alternative providers).

People with certain medical conditions are barred from driving emergency vehicles, including insulin dependent diabetics and some categories of epilepsy. This is something to bear in mind if you are thinking of becoming a paramedic and suffer from one of these conditions.
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https://www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk/a ... paramedic/

That is the position from The College of Paramedics website as of 25/12/2010.

This too from the DVLA........

Police, Ambulance and Health Service Vehicle Driver Licensing

The Secretary of State’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Diabetes and Driving has recommended that drivers with insulin treated diabetes should not drive emergency vehicles. This takes account of the difficulties for an individual, regardless of whether they may appear to have exemplary glycaemic control, in adhering to the monitoring processes required when responding to an emergency situation.
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Nobody is saying you cannot become a Paramedic........just that there are restrictions. That was made clear in all the posts.........
 
Well when I contacted WMAS (West Midlands Ambulance Service) and DVLA they both said that as long as my diabetes type 1 was under control and I had been approved by GP then yes I could drive emergency vehicles.

I indicated that I was type 1 and on Insulin injections.

St John Ambulance said:
Diabetes
Members suffering from Insulin Dependent Diabetes were previously banned from driving for St John Ambulance vehicles. The policy has been modified in relation to insulin dependent diabetic drivers, to comply with the medical standards laid down by the DVLA for those wishing to hold a C1 licence, which are set out below. They must:
1. Have been taking insulin for at least four weeks.
2. Have had no hypoglycaemic events requiring third party assistance in the last
twelve months while driving.
3. Provide evidence of regular monitoring of blood glucose levels by testing
and recording at least twice daily and at times appropriate to driving the
relevant vehicle.
4. Attend an examination by a Consultant Dialectologist at least every twelve
months and provide a report to the County Medical Officer from such
Consultant confirming a history of responsible diabetes self-management,
with a minimal risk of incapacity due to hypoglycaemia. (The driver will be
expected to present results of blood glucose monitoring for the preceding
three months).
5. Have no other condition which would render the driver a danger when
driving ambulances and other vehicles.
6. Are restricted to Category 2, Operational Non Emergency driving
7. Sign an undertaking to comply with the directions of the doctors treating
the diabetes and to report immediately to the County Medical Officer any
significant change in condition.

If all these criteria are met, the member will be eligible to drive any vehicle they hold a licence for, having completed the relevant St John Ambulance training. They will not be eligible to complete an Emergency Response Course and drive in emergency response mode.
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The above is from St John Ambulance who I work for. When contacted WMAS they have said that their policy was the same.
 
I see what you are saying, however I think there is a problem with what you have been told. How long ago did you contact WMAS ?

You CAN drive an Ambulance but NOT an Emergency Response Ambulance type vehicle. That is also stated in the letter you have quoted from the St.John Ambulance at No. 6........

It also clearly states at the end that " They will not be eligible to complete an Emergency Response Course and drive in emergency response mode."

That is what the Regs state, you CAN become a Paramedic, you CAN drive a non Emergency Ambulance, but NOT a frontline Emergency Response vehicle.

There is a huge difference in an Ambulance for general use and a frontline Emergency Response vehicle, be it 2 or 4 wheels. That needs to be clearly understood.

People with certain medical conditions are barred from driving emergency vehicles, including insulin dependent diabetics and some categories of epilepsy.
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That is also clearly the case in the DVLA Regs. It is also what is stated by the WMAS so it is rather confusing that you appear to have been told something different by somebody.

In view of your comments and the importance of having the correct verifiable information I shall be contacting both the DVLA and also a friend at the WMAS Training Dept on Monday and see what their position is on this matter.

I can only tell you what the information is as regards both the present Law and what all the relevant organisations are saying officially at present. All of the information is from verifiable official sources and is not just my opinion. If there is any change in what I have posted then rest assured it will be corrected here.
 
Hi,
I do apologise if I seem to be picky / nasty etc as I'm not trying to be. I'm just doing all the research into becoming a paramedic as it is something I really would like to do for a profession. I'm being given different information everywhere I go and it is / can be very frustrating, especially when you want something so much.

When I contacted WMAS it was about 3 month ago???

In view of your comments and the importance of having the correct verifiable information I shall be contacting both the DVLA and also a friend at the WMAS Training Dept on Monday and see what their position is on this matter.

I can only tell you what the information is as regards both the present Law and what all the relevant organisations are saying officially at present. All of the information is from verifiable official sources and is not just my opinion. If there is any change in what I have posted then rest assured it will be corrected here.
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If you could give me the feedback you get then that would be fantastic. Thank You.

I have re-read my posts and it does seem I'm being quite nasty about this so I do sincerely apologise. As stated I really would like to become a para, and it is just getting frustrating different people telling me different things.... then reading different things on the net.

Being with St John Ambulance and treating people has really made me want to do it more and even full time. My main profession is I.T related and could get a lot more money in I.T than being a paramedic. But I would rather get out there and help treat / people as it is something I enjoy.

I have been told that I would need a C1 license if I want to even think about joining the service, If this is for emergency response or not, I do not know. But I just want to be out there (even on the back of an ambulance) I don't care, as long as i'm helping and treating.

JJWM
 
Hi again.
First off there is no need at all to apologise. I totally understand how you must feel. I never got the sense that you were being nasty at all. Just factual which is something I appreciate.

When you want something badly and yet are getting conflicting information wherever you look then it has to be very frustrating. You are not the first, many times somebody tells a person one thing then when it is properly checked out it seems that the correct information was not given out to that person. I really do feel that this is the case here.

I was a Traffic Officer in the WMP for nearly 29 yrs and actually dealt with a lot of the Law regarding Ambulances and their uses as we had problems with Private ambulance firms so some of what I posted was common knowledge to me. I have posted only the current Legal position which can be checked with DVLA and also the current position regarding Paramedic's via the organisation that represents them as well as the WMAS.

I really do hope that the information I have posted is wrong.......I am quite happy to eat 'humble pie' however, every single official place I have checked and double checked is telling me that what I have posted is correct. So for now all I can do is try and get things clarified officially.

As you can appreciate requests for information and confirmation at this time of year may, like the post, be subject to some delay. Please be assured that as soon as I get anything concrete I will reply here for your benefit.
 
Quick update.

The earliest that any of the relevant Organisation's I have contacted will be in a position to respond will be on Wednesday 29/12/2010. Will keep you posted.
 
The different classes of vehicle can be found on the DVLA's website and usually correlate to the weight of the vehicle. I would imagine most ambulances fall within 3.5 and 7 tonnes hence the requirement for C1.

Go to the DVLA website and have a looky look to give yourself an idea of the different classes. An average family car these days would be about 1400kg to give you an idea. Good luck with your career ambitions, I hope you are able to solve this conundrum and find a way to pursue it.

Ali
 
cugila said:
Quick update.

The earliest that any of the relevant Organisation's I have contacted will be in a position to respond will be on Wednesday 29/12/2010. Will keep you posted.
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Thank you for that I really do appreciate it. Lets see if you get a different answer to me. I have tried looking for the email I got from WMAS, but I think it got deleted. I can't show you the DVLA one as that was a telephone conversation.

I think I might send a letter into WMAS in writing explaining the situation and that I'm a type one diabetic taking insulin and ask them to supply in writing what a diabetic are able to do in the service.

Ali H said:
The different classes of vehicle can be found on the DVLA's website and usually correlate to the weight of the vehicle. I would imagine most ambulances fall within 3.5 and 7 tonnes hence the requirement for C1.

Go to the DVLA website and have a looky look to give yourself an idea of the different classes. An average family car these days would be about 1400kg to give you an idea. Good luck with your career ambitions, I hope you are able to solve this conundrum and find a way to pursue it.

Ali
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Thanks I have already checked their site and also contacted them via telephone..... Although I may phone them again and just confirm. But thanks to both of you.
 
Just so this discussion doesn't run on and on about the same thing we are locking this until we get a definitive answer to the question from DVLA, Paramedic College and WMAS.

Once the answers are forthcoming then it will be re-opened.

If anybody has a problem with this please pm me.
 
Another update.

WMAS (West Midlands Ambulance Service) confirm that while a Diabetic person can train and become a Registered Paramedic it is a matter for the particular Ambulance Trust as to whether or not they would employ them.

There are usually strict criteria for a Diabetic on Insulin. The present position is as I have previously stated.

It matters not how good your control is if you are on Insulin you CANNOT drive a front line ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle). There are other positions that may be open to you.

I am sorry to disappoint anybody at this time but that is the position, the correct position, directly from WMAS, Occupational Health Department. Anybody who wishes to speak to my contact can pm me for details.

If you are considering a Career such as this then please contact the relevant NHS Trust, Primary Care Trust or Health Service Body in your particular area. They have the responsibility for determining the standards, including medical requirements to be applied to Ambulance drivers over and above the driver licensing requirements. Each case may be different.
 
Ok folks..........first of all a Happy New Year to all. :D

After much 'digging' with the organisations concerned in this matter I can now say that ALL the previous information about what a Type 1 or a Type 2 on Insulin can and cannot do in relation to being a Paramedic is 100% accurate.

The information is verifiable from official sources and is current as of today 2nd January 2011.

If, at some point in the future, anything changes then it will be posted here. If anybody knows of any changes then please post them here, however we will want a verifiable source for the information, not just, " my mate told me......" That is only anecdotal and if not verified by a proper source then the post may have to be deleted. Contacting the organisation and not asking the right questions can also confuse things. Get in touch with the appropriate Recruitment Dept and make sure that you speak to the 'right' people, not just a person who doesn't deal with the correct information. They are usually only trying to be helpful.......

Please don't 'shoot the messenger'........might not be what you want to hear but I would not post anything I wasn't 100% sure about.

JJ.
I was sorry that I had to 'burst your bubble' a little, however I know you will bounce back from what I told you. Good luck to you in your career choices. :)

We will now re-open the Topic.
 
Does any one know about diabetics working for LAS, i understand they settled out of court with unison when they stood up for the diabetic drivers that LAS banned from driving.

I believe (reading the reort on the LAS Unison website) that they now allow type 1 diabetic drivers to drive on a full range of operational driving duties.

P.S. 'current' St John policy is that type 1 diabetics can drive under emergency response conditions as long as they meet a certain critea (the same as required for C1)
 
My brother in law is a type 1 and is a Paramedic since birth and if your diabetes is well controlled then there should be no problem good luck x
 
Hi, just had to write in and say I hope you DO hang in there and go for it... Dont let any negativism dampen your confidence and keep striving to achieve your dream of being a paramedic... I would be so proud of you to achieve this for yourself. Please keep us updated as to what happens and transpires with you're application to be one and then your training etc. It would be great to hear of you're progress and steps to achieve this fantastic career and goal . You can do and be everything you wish to with or without diabetes... Anna.x :D
 
It has been made clear many times thoughout this thread that there is nothing to stop ANY Diabetic from actually becoming a Paramedic.

However anybody who wants to be one should contact the recruiting department of the particular organisation to see what their policy is regarding the employment of Insulin dependent Diabetics who would be required to drive 'front line' ERV's (Emergency response Vehicles).

It is a matter for each organisation as to who they will employ in this position. In line with the Secretary of States advice via the DVLA.
 
just wondering if anybody could help, read loads on the internet about weather or not type 1 diabetics can become paramedics and i'm still not clear. so does anybody know the actual answer to this?? i am a type 1 diabetic on the insulin pump.
 
My Husband works with a Paramedic who has type 1 and he had no problems because it was well controlled.
Whether it has changed now im not sure
Good luck!
 
serendipity said:
My Husband works with a Paramedic who has type 1 and he had no problems because it was well controlled.
Whether it has changed now im not sure
Good luck!
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I think that is the 'Key' to this,how well you control your condition so would be a totally individual thing.
 
serendipity said:
My Husband works with a Paramedic who has type 1 and he had no problems because it was well controlled.
Whether it has changed now im not sure
Good luck!
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thanks for that! does your husband drive first response ambulances??
 
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