The giraffe: the emergency care practitioner; Fit for purpose? The East Anglian experience.

T his short report describes the background and development of the new emergency care practitioner (ECP) programme run by the East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust (EAAT) and the Health Schools of the University of East Anglia (UEA). The programme encompasses the emerging national competencies for the ECP. Although the first pilot cohort of 10 paramedics has yet to complete the course at the time of writing, the background and lived experience of developing and providing the programme are discussed. The article also considers a number of the opportunities and threats that may arise with the imminent transfer of the first cohort to an operational role within the NHS.