We recognise that recruitment of Newly Qualified Paramedics (NQPs) is a sensitive and challenging issue, particularly for those just entering the profession. We continue to regularly receive enquiries about NQP opportunities, and we want to be open and honest about our current position, while also helping to manage expectations for those who regularly contact us about roles.
Across the UK, there are now nearly 42,000 registered paramedics, with around 2,500 students graduating in 2025 alone. Training places have expanded significantly in recent years, but the number of available entry-level roles has not increased at the same pace. This has led to a national oversupply of newly qualified paramedics and, as a result, some graduates have not yet been able to secure roles after qualifying.
Overall, ambulance services across the UK are recruiting fewer NQPs than in previous years, despite continued high demand and ongoing operational pressures. It is also important to note that paramedics were not included in the national ‘Graduate Guarantee’ offered to newly qualified nurses and midwives.
This position has developed over time. Fewer paramedics are leaving the profession, which is positive for stability but means fewer vacancies arise. At the same time, movement into more advanced roles and roles outside ambulance services, such as in primary care, has slowed. Alongside the increase in graduates, this has created a gap between the number of people qualifying and the number of funded roles available at entry level.
At SECAmb, we have worked hard in recent years to recruit and retain paramedics to support safe staffing levels. As a result, and because more colleagues are choosing to stay, we currently do not have any paramedic vacancies available. This reflects both the absence of funded vacancies and the need to ensure safe supervision and the right balance of skills across our teams. We are actively monitoring this and keep it under regular review, and we will adapt our approach as circumstances change.
We understand that this may feel difficult to reconcile with the pressures ambulance services are experiencing. However, this reflects a complex national picture rather than any reduction in the importance of the paramedic role. We want to be clear that NQPs remain a vital, valued, and long-term part of our workforce, and this current position does not change our commitment to developing and supporting future paramedics.
Looking ahead, our workforce plans continue to evolve positively. For example, we are developing our virtual care workforce, where experienced clinicians, including paramedics, will work across both frontline and remote care settings, supporting patients face-to-face and over the phone. These developments will help shape future roles and create new career pathways as our services continue to adapt.
We want to offer reassurance that this position may change over time and is kept under regular review. As our workforce continues to develop, and as vacancies arise through natural turnover and new roles, opportunities for NQPs will be advertised openly, although we recognise we cannot guarantee when this position will change.
We fully recognise how important this issue is for those graduating or preparing to qualify. We remain committed to being transparent, to working with partners across the system, and to supporting a sustainable and positive future for the paramedic profession.