Paramedic practitioner 'quicker than A&E'
A two-tier accident and emergency system should be created to ease pressure on an "emergency service at its limit", according to a major NHS review.
NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh said the current system was under "intense, growing and unsustainable pressure."
His report calls for an overhaul of the system in England to treat more people in their own homes, and keep them out of A&E.
The BBC's health correspondent, Adam Brimelow, joined a "paramedic practitioner" in Surrey, where this approach is already up and running.
Darryl Devlier, a paramedic practitioner, has received extra training which could transform how urgent care is provided.
He said: "We use exactly the same product as they do in A&E. We have the same training, all the items are all the same as you'd receive in A&E, and we're quicker."
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday 13 November 2013.
13 Nov 2013
- From the section Health