Oration of Kate Humphries
Kate Humphries is a highly skilled Critical Care Practitioner (CCP) with the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), working in partnership with the Wales Air Ambulance. She joined the service in 2017, bringing with her a strong background in paramedicine, having previously workedwith the West Midlands Ambulance Service and the Welsh Ambulance Service.
In her current role, Kate delivers advanced prehospital care to critically ill and injured patients across Wales. She works predominantly in CCP-led teams, providing interventions beyond the standard paramedic scope, including the administration of blood products. Her expertise is underpinned by a Master’s degree in Advanced Critical Care Practice, reflecting her commitment to clinical excellence. As well as holding the Diploma in Immediate Medical Care, Kate is one of the few paramedics in the UK to hold the traditionally medical Diploma in Retrieval and Transfer Medicine with the RCSEd (and is now an examiner for them).
Kate is deeply involved in education and training teaching advanced life support courses for adults and children to a wide range of healthcare professionals, and developing Advanced Practice MSc modules for HEMS and Retrieval and Transfer Medicine. She leads on development of internal training for EMRTS and ACCTS colleagues, including expanding the scope of practice of paramedics and nurses within the service to ensure the best possible care for the people of Wales. She has contributed to national clinical guidelines for the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC), is overseeing the creation of critical care Advanced Practice guidelines for the College of Paramedics, and has recently collaborated with EMRTS colleagues and the PROMPT Cymru team to improve critical care management of Obstetric patients in Wales
Here at Wrexham, Kate’s support has been valuable in providing our students with real-world experiential learning opportunities, and helping to drive our work to improve trauma education within Wales.
Balancing her professional life with family, Kate is a proud mother of two, and volunteers for South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team, assisting to run the advanced first aid courses for team members Her passion for emergency care and dedication to continuous improvement make her a vital part of Wales Air Ambulance’s mission to deliver hospital-standard care wherever it’s needed.