Tom Nettleton

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science, PG Cert Developing Practice, MSc Advanced Clinical Practice

Specialisms

Paramedic advanced clinic practitioner, UTC, front line paramedic, event medic

Introduction

I qualified as a paramedic in 2015 after qualifying from the University of Hertfordshire, initially working for the NHS ambulance service within the London area. I spent the majority of this time as a solo responder attending a full range of emergency calls across the lifespan and range of medical and trauma settings. I completed the operational commanders course giving me an overview of both the clinical and non-clinical requirements of the management of complex scenes. 

In 2018 I moved into the urgent care setting working within stand alone urgent treatment centres as an emergency care practitioner.  I have completed the MSc in Advanced Practice at the University of Greenwich, consolidating my role and NHS England credentials as an advanced clinical practitioner. I am fully autonomous in seeing patients across the lifespan to see, treat, prescribe for and refer patients. I act as a sign off mentor for student advanced practitioners from all disciplines, including nursing, paramedic and pharmacy students. I lead and manage a team of practitioners and an urgent treatment centre day to day, managing high flows of patients and prioritising care. I am skilled in interpreting X-Ray investigations, point of care testing and ECGs. I routinely reduce fractures, dislocations, undertake complex wound closure and minor surgical skills.  I have a particular interest in acute neurology and emergency ophthalmology, with my MSc dissertation focusing on primary research into paramedics self reported confidence in the diagnosis of posterior circulation stroke.

In order to maintain my currency within acute care I am a UK Resuscitation Council ALS Instructor. I continue to practice within the urgent treatment centre, the event setting and operationally as a paramedic on a bank basis with the ambulance service and as an event paramedic to ensure currency and maintain my skills across a range of clinical settings. 

I externally hold appointments in the voluntary ambulance sector as a national clinical manager. I provide cover as the national on call medical advisor for England for all clinical functions of the charity. This workload relies most on quality and advisory functions. I have liaised directly with the NHS England controlled drug team for a number of years and have a particular interest in development and legal basis of patient group directives, the legal basis for drug acquisition and administration for paramedics.

I accept instructions from both claimant and defendant solicitors and insurers. I have undergone formal training in the medico-legal process and am fully aware of my responsibilities under Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses.