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Emergency medical dispatcher
Emergency call handler, ambulance dispatcher
Emergency medical dispatchers handle calls from the public and GPs requesting an ambulance.
Average salary (a year)
£23000
Starter
£28000
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
40.0 to 42.0 hours
a week
Work Hours
evenings / weekends / bank holidays
on shifts
How to become
Explore the different ways to get into this role
You can get into this job through:a college course; an apprenticeship; applying directly
College
You could do a college course to get some of the computer and typing skills you'll need in this job.
You could do a level 2 award in touch typing or a level 2 ICDL award in IT user skills.
Entry requirements
There are no set entry requirements for this route.
    Apprenticeship
    You can get into this role through an emergency service contact handling advanced apprenticeship.
    You'll usually need to be over 18 years old and might need a GCSE grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English or equivalent.
    Entry requirements
    Employers will set their own entry requirements.
      Volunteering
      You'll find it helpful to have some healthcare experience before applying for a job.
      You could:get advice about volunteering in the NHS, do first aid work with the British Red Cross or St John Ambulance, find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT
      Direct Application
      You can apply directly to your local ambulance service.
      Each service sets their own entry requirements, but it could help your application if you have:GCSEs grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English, maths and science, experience in customer service, like a call centre operator, map reading skills and knowledge of local geography, an understanding of medical terminology, a recognised and current first aid qualification
      More Information
      Career Tips
      You'll be expected to understand how the NHS values apply in your work when applying for a job.
      Further Information
      You can find out more about how to become an emergency medical dispatcher from Health Careers.
      What it takes
      Find out what skills you’ll use in this role
      Skills and knowledge
      You'll need:
        Customer service skills
        The ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
        To be thorough and pay attention to detail
        Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
        Sensitivity and understanding
        The ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
        Knowledge of public safety and security
        Administration skills
      Digital Skills Level
      to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
      Related Restrictions
      be over 18 years of age
      What you will do
      Discover the day-to-day tasks you’ll do in this role
      Day to day tasks
      In this role you could
      keep the caller calm to find out the location, details of what happened and condition of the patient, give first aid advice to people facing life-threating situations, decide which crew and vehicles to dispatch based on the situation and who is nearest, contact the crew and pass on essential information, create a record of calls
      Working environment
      You could work in a control room.
      Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
      Career Path & Progression
      Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities
      With experience, you could become a team leader or control room superintendent.
      You could also do additional training to become an emergency care assistant or paramedic.
      Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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