Safety recommendation
HSIB recommends that the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives works together with the ambulance services to share best practice in relation to paediatric training, education resources, frequency and types of training, and that it collates and shares areas of best practice.
Response:
We convened a meeting of the national education network for ambulance education leads (NENAS) to present the report and findings/recommendations and subsequently we sent a survey to each ambulance service via the NENAS.
We asked what paediatric training is currently provided to existing staff and to which staff groups, what types of education resources are used and the frequency and types of training.
The results were reviewed, collated, presented, discussed and shared at a NENAS meeting on 16 February 2022. Although variation was identified, all services did have paediatric training in place.
Further work will now take place, led by NENAS with input from the ambulance lead paramedic group and the national ambulance service medical directors group (NASMeD) to consider what is best practice and potentially recommend a minimum standard for paediatric education in ambulance trusts for existing staff and new staff.
We are also liaising with the College of Paramedics and are aware of work they are proposing around future curriculum guidance and standards of education for the future ambulance workforce.
Actions planned to deliver the safety recommendation:
- Survey sent to ambulance trusts to gather information on paediatric education for existing staff. Surveys all completed by 11 February 2022.
- Survey results reviewed, collated, presented, discussed and shared at a NENAS meeting. Completed 16 February 2022.
- Gather views of education and lead paramedics of what best practice in paediatric education should be for existing staff, whether this is currently in place and agree if minimum standards should be developed by end March 2022. A decision has not yet been made of whether a minimum standard of education should be agreed nationally for existing staff.
- Agree minimum standard of paediatric education in ambulance trusts for existing staff by end June 2022, subject to agreement as per above.
- Issue to ambulance trusts a best practice statement and minimum standard for paediatric education for the existing workforce by end of September 2022. Subject to decisions as above and agreement by ambulance chief executives.
Response received on 8 March 2022.