Mr Andrew Webber

As a lecturer within Plymouth's paramedic science team, Andrew is primarily responsible for promoting high standards of learning for pre-registrant paramedic students. His role includes developing students' practical skills (eg. physical exam techniques and resuscitation), alongside fostering other important skills (eg. clinical decision-making, critiquing and utilising evidence to improve practice). He is also responsible for developing registrant paramedics who choose to undertake post-registration study at Plymouth. Before joining the university in 2013, Andrew worked with the local NHS ambulance service. He began as an ambulance care assistant in 1999, qualified as an ambulance technician in 2002 and then as a paramedic in 2005. Whilst working in the NHS, Andrew completed a BSc(Hons) in emergency care, before undertaking an MSc in health & social care research. In 2018, Andrew adopted a part-time role with the university, which has enabled him to practise with a GP network in Plymouth for two days each week. During Andrew’s time in his primary care role, he has completed the Health Education England Centre for Advancing Practice accredited MSc in advanced clinical practice and become an independent prescriber (for more on paramedic independent prescribing, visit the College of Paramedics' site). When able, Andrew continues to practise in the NHS ambulance service as a paramedic. He also practises within the private sector, working on festival sites and sporting events such as horse racing and motorsports.

As recognised in Hampton's (2003) 'Guidelines - for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men' piece, not all patients 'fit' into guidelines. Andrew has a keen interest in using evidence, pragmatism and patient choice to support individual patient's unique situations.  Andrew’s clinical interests include older people's care, advanced care planning and palliative care. He also has interests in clinical education; and, supporting colleagues to learn from their HCPC fitness to practise cases.

Summary of job roles
2018 - Paramedic (primary & urgent care), Pathfields Medical Group (current 0.4 FTE)
2013 - Lecturer in paramedic science, University of Plymouth (current 0.6 FTE)
2012 - Specialist paramedic (urgent & emergency care) by secondary assignment, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
2010 - Specialist paramedic, Alliance Pioneer Group (APG) (current ZHC)
2005 - Paramedic, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (current ZHC) 
2002 - Ambulance technician, Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust
1999 - Ambulance care assistant, Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust

Summary of academic qualifications/achievements
2022 - MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Clinical Practitioner) with Distinction, University of Plymouth
2014 - PgCert Academic Practice, Plymouth University
2013 - MSc Health & Social Care Research with Distinction, University of Sheffield
2010 - BSc(Hons) Emergency Care, First class, University of Plymouth
2001 - CertHSC (Health & Social Care), Open University
 
Summary of relevant professional/vocational qualifications/achievements
2023 - First contact practitioner (FCP) roadmap supervisors (RMSV) course, HEE accredited
2023 - Adult safeguarding (level 3)
2022 - Child safeguarding (level 3)
2020 - Independent prescribing, University of West England
2012 - Off-road driver training, British Off-Road Driving Association
2008 - Mentorship (HEAB370), University of Plymouth
2005 - Ambulance paramedic, IHCD
2002 - Ambulance aid & emergency driving, IHCD
1999 - Ambulance care assistant & non-emergency driving, IHCD
 
Clinical practice
Andrew continues to practise as an ambulance paramedic, undertaking an average of 200-300 hours annually in this role (last practised in March 2024). As well as practising as an ambulance paramedic, Andrew undertakes ~1,000 hours of clinical practice in his primary care each year.

Andrew is a member of a number of professional bodies, including:

Andrew is one of the three admission tutors for the BSc(Hons) Paramedic Science programme.
He is also a member of the School of Health Professions' Professional Issues Committee, who assess applicants' suitability to enter healthcare programmes.
As well as being responsibilities within the University of Plymouth, Andrew has undertaken the following:

Andrew's teaching interests include developing paramedic students' core knowledge (particularly of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapies), clinical examination skills (eg. assessment of core body systems using the traditional medical models) and cognitive skills (eg. clinical decision making, analysis of ECGs). He is keen to support traditional lecture teaching with alternative learning approaches, including:

Andrew also has a keen interest in providing formative feedback to support development. Alongside formative feedback offered during practical teaching sessions, Andrew's theory sessions involve a range of activities to promote formative assessment and feedback.
For the 2021-22 deliveries, he will lead/co-lead on the following year-two and year-three undergraduate modules:

Andrew was nominated for an 'Inspirational Teacher of the Year Award' in 2022 with the following feedback:
 
'Andrew is hard working, he is always reassuring and I feel I could go to him with anything to which he would support all. He is an inspiration and has a vast amount of knowledge he is willing to share with all students. He cleverly lays out his presentations in a way that helps all who attend his lectures. He inspires all to be the best paramedics possible all while smiling and having a charming charisma. If someone is struggling to understand anything in their practice, he finds a way to help them understand. He has an amazing attitude and will always make the time for us. Thank you Andrew. You’re one of a kind!'

Andrew's postgraduate research examined the use of naloxone for opioid overdose within one UK ambulance service. He remains interested in the areas of substance misuse and harm-reduction. His more recent areas of research interest include older people's care and palliative care.Andrew acts as a research supervisor for students at Plymouth. He has supervised several undergraduate projects, including:

He also supervises students planning and undertaking research in partial fulfilment of postgraduate awards at Plymouth. Research titles include:

For more on the School of Health Professions' postgraduate programmes for paramedics, visit:

For more on the other University of Plymouth postgraduate programmes for advanced practice, visit: