Jason O'Connell

I am a qualified and registered HCPC paramedic since 2017. I am currently employed full time by the North East Ambulance Service as a Clinical Education Officer in the education and training department. I hold a CertEd, BSc and Dip HE as well as ITLS, manual handling, breakaway and restrictive intervention instructor certifications. 

I am a registered paramedic (HCPC No. PA42256) with over a decade of experience in prehospital, military, and educational roles. Having worked in both the UK and Ireland, I have developed extensive experience in pre-hospital emergency care, trauma management, rescue operations, and multi-agency collaboration. 

I am currently employed by the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), where I have held a full time post since 2017 initially as a frontline paramedic mentor before progressing to Clinical Education Officer. This position has allowed me to deliver advanced clinical education, manage learners, conduct training needs analyses, and maintain clinical proficiency through operational response duties. I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (2022) and serve as a lecturer on the university paramedic programme, ensuring high standards through peer review and reflective practice.

Prior to joining NEAS, I worked with the Scottish Ambulance Service in Oban, where I gained valuable experience in rural trauma and long-distance transfers, and previously served as a medic and acting corporal in the Irish Defence Forces (reserves). 

These roles honed my leadership, teamwork, and communication skills in high-pressure operational settings. My time in the Irish Civil Defence (Cork City) also provided practical experience in search and rescue, water rescue, and urban rescue.

My professional development has been underpinned by continuous study and a commitment to critical care. I have completed modules in Prehospital Emergency Medicine, and I am currently studying for an MSc in Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine at Queen Mary University. 

I hold certifications including ITLS Instructor, Advanced Life Support (RCUK), Aeromedical and Retrieval Medicine (CoROM), Prehospital Emergency Anesthesia (GNAAS), and Flight Medical Provider. In 2023, I achieved IBSC Critical Care Paramedic certification — a personal milestone that reflects my determination and ability to succeed in challenging environments.

Alongside these qualifications I uphold and maintain a comprehensive CPD portfolio relevant to my current and future practice.