Emergency Medicine Advanced Clinical Practitioners (EM-ACPs) play a vital role in the delivery of emergency care across the UK. RCEM has over one thousand ACP members, and this number is rapidly increasing. EM-ACPs are represented on all major RCEM Committees.
Advanced Clinical Practice
Advanced clinical practice is a defined level of practice within a range of regulated clinical professions such as nursing, paramedicine, pharmacy and occupational therapy.
It is a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making, underpinned by a master’s level award or equivalent that encompasses the four pillars of advanced practice (clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research), with demonstration of core capabilities and area specific clinical competence (Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England, 2017).
The role of ACPs in Emergency Medicine
The role of ACPs in Emergency Medicine (EM) is relatively new. Working as part of the multi-disciplinary team, EM-ACPs are able to look after patients with a wide range of pathologies from the life-threatening to the self-limiting.
The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (2023) highlights how advanced clinical practice is central to helping transform service delivery and better meet local health needs by providing enhanced capacity, capability, productivity and efficiency within multi-professional teams.
As part of the plan, there will be a focus on expanding enhanced, advanced and associate roles to offer modernised careers, with a stronger emphasis on the generalist and core skills needed to care for patients with multimorbidity, frailty or mental health needs. This includes increasing the number of advanced practitioners and independent prescribers acting as senior decision-makers in appropriate settings, offering options for clinical career progressions for more experienced staff.
The wellbeing of EM-ACPs is a vital factor to be considered in the development of an effective and sustainable workforce. Working with the RCEM Sustainable Working Practices Committee, the RCEM ACP Forum has created guidance for EM-ACPs and Emergency Departments in managing their growing ACP workforce.
