IHCD Ambulance driving course.

M

MisterBrightside

Full Registered User
Hi guys, can anybody recommend a company that does blue light ihcd ambulance driving course ? Im off to Ronin South Africa for the IHCD Ambulance tech course. They dont do the Ambulance driving part , so Im going to have to do that when I get back to the UK. Whilst searching the web I noticed that lifeskillsmedical.com in Stafford do this course, but the dates dont really suit. Im looking to possibly do the driving course in July/August. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks Bravomedic, I have seen their website but I was unsure whether they did the IHCD certification. Whilst searching the net I've noticed a lot of companies offering Blue Light courses without the IHCD qualification. I will send them an e mail and phone them.
 
How much money do you have to spare? There are tons of companies who offer the course including Emstar.biz, scottish ambulance service, FTS Solutions. The M&L course is not IHCD accredited. Their tech course is but the driving isn't.

You might find it easier to complete the Ronin course and then gain employment with a company who will put you through the driving otherwise you are looking at £6000-£8000 plus VAT and accommodation!
 
Cheers for the info ukparamedic, I will check out the other companies. I've been in touch with FTS solutions and I am to phone them after the weekend. I'm looking to get as much of the qualification done as I can as soon as I leave the sandpit. I do have money to spare and dont mind spending some if it will help me secure a decent job. I want to be more employable so I can get my logged hours and return to do the Paramedics. lifeskillsmedical.com do the course for 2100 pounds. The next course that suits me is September. I was looking to do one in July or August, but if they are 6 - 8 k then I think I will do as you say and just apply for jobs with what I've got and if I have no luck then just do lifeskills course in September. Meanwhile I'll keep searching !
 
Lifeskills must have dropped their prices, maybe increased competition from newly accredited companies is driving the market. M&L for example are offering their IHCD Tech course at a similar price to the Ronin one. I would personally choose the Ronin one due to the experience gained and the track history and reputation of the company.

Driving will make you more employable but first check whether you can get a job first before shelling out all the money. It might be worth phoning potential employers first.

I know that SWAST were taking on Ronin graduates and employing them as ECAs (not a tech but still enough to get you qualified) which would mean you get your driving provided.

Many NHS Trusts and private companies crying out for qualified staff are taking on self funded students. It costs the NHS a small fortune to train a technician and many are finding that the mass recruitment of ECA/EWOK staff has left them with nobody to work with and that there is now a desperate shortage of qualified staff.

One trust not mine thankfully) has recruited 1400 care assistants and now can't deploy them. There has even been talk of them being made redundant. Less than 12 months service = bye bye your services are not required!
 
Not talking about SCAS are you by any chance UKP? What a bunch of dicks they've got at the middle and top. Not surprised that the crews are so pissed off.
 
ukparamedic said:
Lifeskills must have dropped their prices, maybe increased competition from newly accredited companies is driving the market. M&L for example are offering their IHCD Tech course at a similar price to the Ronin one. I would personally choose the Ronin one due to the experience gained and the track history and reputation of the company.

Driving will make you more employable but first check whether you can get a job first before shelling out all the money. It might be worth phoning potential employers first.

I know that SWAST were taking on Ronin graduates and employing them as ECAs (not a tech but still enough to get you qualified) which would mean you get your driving provided.

Many NHS Trusts and private companies crying out for qualified staff are taking on self funded students. It costs the NHS a small fortune to train a technician and many are finding that the mass recruitment of ECA/EWOK staff has left them with nobody to work with and that there is now a desperate shortage of qualified staff.

One trust not mine thankfully) has recruited 1400 care assistants and now can't deploy them. There has even been talk of them being made redundant. Less than 12 months service = bye bye your services are not required!
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Yes I did the Ronin Medics course in 2006 before it was IHCD.It was hard but well worth it. I had valuable experience on working with all types of casualties. I also gained South Africa's BLS Ambulance Assistant certificate. I'm actually really looking forward to returning to do the IHCD.

I will use my time before and after the course to apply for work. I can go basically anywhere in the UK to find work because I dont really have a permanent residence at the moment ha ha.

I'm sure Ronin will give me a 'heads up ' whilst on the course but I thought I would try and get a head start before by asking the experienced guys on this forum for their opinion on the UK side of things....Cheers.
 
My money every time would be with Ronin for the IHCD Tech. The course is excellent value for money and the experience gained can't be matched by any of the UK companies.

If it's IHCD Tech you want then SA is the place to go in my opinion.
 
Don't bother with Lifeskills mate. My friend booked on the course and walked out after 3 days. Said it was s**t! Don't waste your money. I'd personally look at Ambulance Services who run them commercially. I believe Scottish Ambulance Service does.

Just my two pennies worth.

-=MM=-
 
MM, don't know you, never met you and don't know how accurate your anecdote is but I think we should exercise caution before making negative comments about a company that cannot be proven. If we want the trolls and timewasters to leave the forum alone then we must act in a professional capacity ourselves and conduct ourselves in the manner that we would like to see others behave.

3 days isn't really long enough to judge a course. I remember my paramedic course was chaotic for at least a week and my tech course involved nothing more than paperwork and introductions for a week or so. Instructors needing replacing at short notice and students getting lost etc and this was a commercial course from an NHS trust.

I have concerns about Lifeskills and the guy who owns it calling himself a doctor. Specifically it's his brother who runs the MTA who claims to be an MI5 agent etc and sells his worthless membership.

However, despite my concerns; I wouldn't comment on the quality of the course there without first hand experience.

And if they are doing the driving for £2100, all you want is a qualification so take advantage of the price and get your qualification.

I still say that the exposure gained with Ronin is hands down the best that you will get so if it was my money then I would do tech course with Ronin and driving with the cheapest company.
 
Mountainman said:
Don't bother with Lifeskills mate. My friend booked on the course and walked out after 3 days. Said it was s**t! Don't waste your money. I'd personally look at Ambulance Services who run them commercially. I believe Scottish Ambulance Service does.

Just my two pennies worth.

-=MM=-[/QUOTE

Cheers MM for the input. I will definately take that into considerstion when looking for a training provider.
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ukparamedic said:
MM, don't know you, never met you and don't know how accurate your anecdote is but I think we should exercise caution before making negative comments about a company that cannot be proven. If we want the trolls and timewasters to leave the forum alone then we must act in a professional capacity ourselves and conduct ourselves in the manner that we would like to see others behave.

3 days isn't really long enough to judge a course. I remember my paramedic course was chaotic for at least a week and my tech course involved nothing more than paperwork and introductions for a week or so. Instructors needing replacing at short notice and students getting lost etc and this was a commercial course from an NHS trust.

I have concerns about Lifeskills and the guy who owns it calling himself a doctor. Specifically it's his brother who runs the MTA who claims to be an MI5 agent etc and sells his worthless membership.

However, despite my concerns; I wouldn't comment on the quality of the course there without first hand experience.

And if they are doing the driving for £2100, all you want is a qualification so take advantage of the price and get your qualification.

I still say that the exposure gained with Ronin is hands down the best that you will get so if it was my money then I would do tech course with Ronin and driving with the cheapest company.
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Hi UKP, I'm definately going with Ronin. I've applied for the next course and just waiting on their clearance. I will let you know how I progress and how the course is, providing they give me permission to do so.
 
UKP, know what your saying mate and am only relaying the thoughts of my friend on the course. My mate has full military service and spent time doing stuff he never talks about. I'd trust him with my life and value his opinion. I just don't want anyone to loose money on a bad course like he did. I'd like to think we're all friends on here and wouldn't want my friends wasting time or money.

Now, back to my ale.

-=MM=-
 
Mr-BS...
Similar background to you bro. I did the Ronin Med course early last year and then the IHCD drivers with emstar to gain status. Both courses are second to none and i have no complaints. A number of companies require IHCD drivers qual for techs and dont recognise other "in house courses" so i advise an IHCD course. The actual IHCD qual can be gained without tho! IHCD/Edexcel recognised that there was no legal requirement for accredited ambulance quals in the UK and a severe lack of instructors.. and i know several persons working on full IHCD tech status that have done the cheaper and less time consuming course. M&L have been mentioned and correctly pointed to as a viable option. I am currently on the books and gaining experience / knowledge continuously.. I got what i wanted after leaving Aegis and the box just over a year ago! If you require contacts, advise etc PM me and i will have a phone chat to help get you through the door.
 
I twice called FTS solutions to be loaded on to a blue light course. They said they would get back to me about joining in with their NWAS contract. They never did. I e-mailed them 4 times about wether or not I could do the course and never got a reply. Very unprofessional. A couple of my friends that are qualified Paras have loaded themselves onto an NHS bank and were loaded on the course straight away. Perhaps this would be a good way to do it especially when the NHS are paying.
 
HI guys.
I did my course as part of my new job for an HDU service.
the ROSPA/IAM bit was done to start off, then we used this guy from road-craft training. Ian Jeffs. excellent course. and at the end, you are able to apply for APL OF THE btec in blue light driving or response driving or whatever they now call it.
I am not an IHCD tech, and this was not the IHCD course, but who owns Btec and IHCD?? its all pretty much the same (Please correct me if I am wrong).

Hope this helps.
3l
 
Good points 3L

I recently attended a bit of CPD where a traffic PS attended from the local Police. He addressed the imminant change in the legislation.

In summary: the legislation changed some time ago, but due to admin probs, is yet to be enacted. All it says now is that blue light driver training must be appropriate. However, DSA will not or cannot define 'appropriate'. People are therefore defaulting back to IHCD in the absence of clear guidance.

It's worth noting that several very successful established organisations embrace blue light driver training that is not IHCD. BASICS comes to mind, where they do a 4 day course which they deem 'appropriate'. If this fits with the legislation, then why not.

The risk of course is that people will book onto say, the BASICS driver training course (at huge expense) and then some suited numpty in the HO or DSA will conduct a Friday afternoon definition of the word 'appropriate' and lo and behold, the course will not fit the definition. Bollox.

If I were to have a punt on which providor to use, my advise would be to use one that's already supplying that facility to one of the statutory emergency services, or from an organisation who's either big enough or influential enough to be on the radar of the DSA (BASICS, NHS, M&L etc) so would pack a punch if they question things.

As already said, Ian Jeffs has a good rep, and easily fits the above category.

Starlight Out
 
SJA in our area do a lot of A&E support work in our area and they don't have IHCD driver training. Our trust accept that you cannot expect a volunteer to undergo a 3 week full time course at considerable expense. It is also worth noting that only two days of the IHCD course actually involves any bue light driving. In some trusts, they don't do any blue light driving on the course at all.

The IHCD won't recognise EFAD (fire service) training and even police traffic officers have a hard time applying for accreditation of prior learning.

Some companies working for NHS trusts on 999 work have been given permission to use IAM and ROSPA plus an assessment from the Trust's driving examiners.

I wouldn't want to have to pay out any money for a driving course having already paid for the tech course but you will have to weigh up the opinions on here and make your mind up. Try and find a job first though before spending any more money.
 
Thanks guys for all the useful information. I thought it was mandatory to have the IHCD driving course. I will weigh up all the different options. I am still in the sand box at the minute but I have a few weeks off before the Ronin Med course starts so I will look further into it.


Cheers.........
 
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