Tom Nettleton, Registered Paramedic

Professional Experience

I qualified as a paramedic in 2015 after completing my training at the University of Hertfordshire and began working for the NHS ambulance service in London. Most of my time was spent as a solo responder, attending a wide range of emergency calls across all age groups and clinical presentations. I completed the Operational Commanders Course, which provided insight into both clinical and non-clinical aspects of managing complex scenes.

In 2018, I transitioned into urgent care, working within standalone urgent treatment centres as an Emergency Care Practitioner. I currently lead and manage a team of practitioners and oversee daily operations in a busy urgent treatment centre, prioritising care and managing high patient flow.

My clinical practice includes working autonomously across the lifespan, assessing, treating, prescribing for, and referring patients. I am also experienced in interpreting X-rays, ECGs, and point-of-care testing, as well as performing minor surgical procedures such as complex wound closures, fracture and dislocation reductions. I have a particular interest in acute neurology and emergency ophthalmology, with my MSc dissertation focusing on paramedics’ self-reported confidence in diagnosing posterior circulation stroke. To maintain clinical currency, I continue to practise across multiple settings including urgent care, event medicine, and frontline paramedic work on a bank basis. I am also a UK Resuscitation Council ALS Instructor.

Externally, I hold a national clinical manager role within the voluntary ambulance sector, providing strategic clinical oversight and acting as the national on-call medical advisor for England. This role involves quality assurance and advisory functions, including direct liaison with NHS England’s Controlled Drugs Team. I have a particular interest in the legal frameworks surrounding Patient Group Directions and the governance of drug acquisition and administration by paramedics.

Professional Development

I hold an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice from the University of Greenwich, which consolidated my clinical role and credentials under NHS England’s ACP framework. I act as a sign-off mentor for student advanced practitioners from nursing, paramedic, and pharmacy backgrounds. I also attend relevant training to maintain my professional development.