Recognition of the acutely ill infant

The College of Paramedics welcomes the recommendation raised in this report and thanks the HSIB for striving to improve care in the paediatric population. In order the meet the safety recommendation, the College of Paramedics will work closely key stakeholders, especially the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), to achieve the following actions:

At point of the next paramedic undergraduate curriculum guidance review, the College of Paramedics will carefully examine the section on the assessment and management of children, and consider appropriate changes based on the outcome of this report.

The College of Paramedics will continue to work closely with Health Education England to provide e-learning content for all paramedics.

The College of Paramedics is currently reviewing the foundation-preceptorship programme for newly registered paramedics. The e-learning component of this programme will incorporate further paediatric material including a recommendation to complete the Spotting the Sick Child programme and links to further resources such as the Health Education England Paediatrics in Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Learning Resource. The College of Paramedics will ensure that we consult with patients (or their parents / caregiver) to ensure that the lived experience of out-of-hospital paramedic care / treatment is better understood, which will positively influence the design of the foundation-preceptorship programme.

Finally, the College of Paramedics will ensure that our future paediatric education material is also representative of people with darker skin tones. This will be by incorporating learning based on the Mind the Gap Handbook of Clinical Signs produced by Malone Mukwende and colleagues.

Actions planned to deliver the safety recommendation:

• At the next undergraduate curriculum guidance review, examine the section on the assessment and management of children and consider appropriate changes based on the HSIB Recognition of The Acutely Ill Infant report, by 1 January 2023. A review of the curriculum guidance is commencing early 2022, with a planned completion date prior to the new year.
• The College of Paramedics will continue to work closely with Health Education England to provide e-learning content for all paramedics, by 1 July 2022. Additionally, review of existing content forms part of refresh of project. An independent reviewer with paediatric expertise is being tasked with review and update of the paediatric sessions.
• College of Paramedics is reviewing the foundation-preceptorship programme for newly registered paramedics. The e-learning component of this programme will incorporate further paediatric material including a recommendation to complete the Spotting the Sick Child programme and links to further resources such as the Health Education England Paediatrics in Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Learning Resource, by 1 September 2022. Additionally, existing content to be extended to include learning needs of all newly registered paramedics. An independent reviewer with paediatric expertise is being tasked with review and update of the paediatric sessions.

Response received on 4 March 2022.