Deborah Lopez, Registered Paramedic

Professional Experience

I began my career with the ambulance service in 2008 and started working on emergency vehicles in 2009, responding to 999 emergency and urgent calls. Initially a student, I progressed to a qualified emergency technician while training as a student paramedic, and became a registered paramedic in 2015.

I practise autonomously, leading care and decision-making in the community. My clinical focus is pre-hospital care, including emergency medicine administration, critical interventions, and decisions regarding hospital conveyance or referral to primary care services. I have experience managing trauma, medical, maternity, and mental health emergencies, and treat both adult and paediatric patients. I am also familiar with planning ongoing care when hospital admission is not required, in line with relevant guidelines. During my time with the ambulance service, I worked as a clinical trainer and mentor, and led service improvement projects focused on compliance with emergency care bundles.

My career has included roles in clinical education, service improvement, and regulatory assessment. As a clinical trainer and mentor, I supported the development of paramedics and technicians, and contributed to quality improvement initiatives. In 2023, I joined the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Tribunal Service as a registrant panel member, providing expert clinical input in fitness to practise hearings. This role has since expanded to include assessing international paramedic applicants for HCPC registration, evaluating their compliance with UK professional and clinical standards.

I also work for MNSI as an investigator of safety incidents. In this role, I act as a clinical advisor in pre-hospital care, routinely reporting on ambulance activity related to maternity services. My reports and recommendations are informed by national and local guidelines and current research. I continue to practise clinically as a bank paramedic, regularly working frontline shifts and maintaining an up-to-date clinical and professional portfolio.

Professional Development

My professional roles and responsibilities require a strong understanding of national guidelines, regulatory frameworks, and current clinical practice. I maintain my professional development by attending relevant training.