Dorset GP Centre | Emergencies in Primary Care

Dorset GP Centre are offering workshops on ‘The practical management of emergencies in primary care’.

GPs have a responsibility to provide emergency care and clinical staff need training to ensure their skills are up-to-date. Although GPs are currently required to undertake regular Basic Life Support training, most emergencies are peri-arrest situations, and this is an area where GPs can lack confidence (Ramanayake et al., 2014). This may be because life threatening emergencies in the community are relatively infrequent and therefore provide a challenge for doctors in keeping up-to-date.

The aim of these workshops is to up-skill primary care clinicians in managing emergencies that could occur in GP surgeries. We use simulation based training in community environments where emergencies actually occur creating ‘real-life’ scenarios. Clinicians are given opportunities to practice using their own equipment and medication, and be confident managing emergencies within their surgeries. This is particularly important for time critical illnesses where delays can have a direct impact on morbidity and mortality.

Ramanayake et al (2014). Management of Emergencies in General Practice. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 3(4), 305-308.

Feedback from participants

“This was brilliant”

“I learnt lots and everything was useful”

“I hope this can be done regularly as it will make a huge difference to patient care”

“Excellent … life-like to make more memorable”

“Relevant practicalities – this made teaching so much more tangible”.

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