• Practice Nurses
• District Nurses
• Healthcare Assistants
• Phlebotomists

• Anatomy and physiology
• Reasons for carrying out phlebotomy
• Different methods of phlebotomy
• Identification of veins suitable for phlebotomy
• Contraindications and unsuitable veins
• Potential problems and how to address them
• Review of relevant policies and procedures
• Familiarisation with equipment used locally
• Assessment of and communication with patients
• Obtaining informed consent
• Health and safety
• Infection control and safe disposal of equipment
• Practicing obtaining a venous blood sample from a teaching model
• Appropriate documentation of procedure

On completion of the course, all delegates will have to undergo a period of supervised practice in their workplace and formal assessment of competency.

• Practice Nurses
• District Nurses
• Healthcare Assistants
• Phlebotomists

• Anatomy and physiology
• Reasons for carrying out phlebotomy
• Different methods of phlebotomy
• Identification of veins suitable for phlebotomy
• Contraindications and unsuitable veins
• Potential problems and how to address them
• Relevant policies and procedures
• Equipment used locally
• Assessment of and communication with patients
• Obtaining informed consent
• Health and safety
• Infection control and safe disposal of equipment
• Demonstration of competence on a teaching model
• Appropriate documentation of procedure

Discussion re: recommended versus actual practice. Sharing of good practice.

• Practice Nurses
• District Nurses
• Healthcare Assistants

• Anatomy and physiology
• Examination of the ear and use of the otoscope
• The normal tympanic membrane and common ear problems
• Reasons for carrying out ear irrigation
• Contraindications to ear irrigation
• Potential problems and how to address them
• Relevant policies and procedures
• Equipment used locally
• Assessment of and communication with patients
• Obtaining informed consent
• Health and safety
• Infection control, safe disposal and cleaning of equipment
• Practical workshop
• Appropriate documentation
• Patient advice

On completion of the course, all delegates will have to undergo a period of supervised practice in their workplace and formal assessment of competency.

• Practice nurses
• District nurses
• Healthcare Assistants

• Anatomy and physiology
• Examination of the ear and use of the otoscope
• The normal tympanic membrane and common ear problems
• Reasons for carrying out ear irrigation
• Contraindications to ear irrigation
• Potential problems and how to address them
• Relevant policies and procedures
• Equipment used locally
• Assessment of and communication with patients
• Obtaining informed consent
• Health and safety
• Infection control, safe disposal and cleaning of equipment
• Appropriate documentation
• Patient advice

Demonstration of competence on a teaching model. Discussion and sharing of good practice.

• Practice nurses
• HCAs
• GPs
• Pharmacists

• Spirometry equipment
• Reasons for carrying out spirometry
• What a spirometer measures
• Preparation of spirometry equipment
• Calibration and cleaning procedures
• Review of relevant policies and procedures
• Infection control and safe disposal of equipment
• Preparation of the patient
• Assessment of and communication with patients
• Obtaining informed consent
• Recognising a technically acceptable trace and how to achieve it
• Commonly encountered problems and how to address them
• Practicing obtaining a technically acceptable spirometry trace
• Appropriate documentation of procedure
• An overview of achieving a trace fit for interpretation
• Next steps to accreditation

• Practice nurses
• GPs
• Pharmacists

• Spirometry equipment
• Calibration and cleaning procedures
• Preparation of the patient
• Infection control and safe disposal of equipment

Will be covered by a quiz.

The focus of the session will be on:

• An overview of interpretation
• Clinical case studies to demonstrate numerical and clinical interpretation
• Next steps - accreditation or not?

• HCAs
• Practice nurses

• Update knowledge and awareness of the role of spirometry in primary care
• Update knowledge and awareness of the importance of spirometer quality assurance and its implementation
• Refresh practical skills to recognise and perform high quality spirometry
• Reinforce confidence in performing, understanding and implementing spirometry
• Peer discussion and sharing of good practice utilising shared case studies
• Next steps to accreditation if appropriate

• Practice nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• GPs

Who have relevant experience of spirometry and interpretation

• Update knowledge and awareness of the role of spirometry in primary care
• Update knowledge and awareness of the importance of spirometer quality assurance and how to check traces meet quality assurance requirements
• Review interpretation and clinical implications of spirometry results, including differential diagnosis
• Review strategies to incorporate spirometry testing systematically into routine clinical practice
• Reinforce confidence in interpreting spirometry traces both numerically and clinically
• Peer discussion and sharing of good practice

• Practice Nurses
• District Nurses
• School Nurses
• Health Visitors

• Aims of immunisation: national policy and schedules
• The immune system and how vaccines work
• Vaccine preventable diseases
• The different types of vaccines used and their composition
• Current issues and controversies regarding immunisation
• Communicating with patients and parents
• Legal aspects of vaccination
• Storage and handling of vaccines
• Correct administration of vaccines
• Anaphylaxis and adverse events
• Documentation, record keeping and reporting
• Strategies for improving uptake rates
• New developments
• Personal and professional development

This programme is based on the PHE National Minimum Standards for Immunisation Training and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training, guidance of professional bodies and the Department of Health 'Immunisation against Infectious Disease' 2006 ('Green Book') online and PHE update letters.

All delegates MUST complete pre-course e-learnng which will emailed to them prior to the course. Delegates must also pass a MCQ paper on their training days. On completion of the course, all delegates will have to undergo a period of supervised practice in their workplace and formal assessment of competency.

• General Practitioners
• Nurse Practitioners
• Practice Nurses
• District Nurses
• School Nurses
• Health Visitors

Review of:

• Current issues in vaccination
• Recent epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases
• Any relevant/recent changes to the National Immunisation schedule
• Any changes to legislation relevant to vaccination
• Review of current practice and identification of areas for improvement
• Case scenarios for commonly-encountered problems in practice

Discussion and sharing of good practice.

• Experienced HCAs

Pre-requisites: Delegates MUST be level 3 qualified with a minimum of 2 years experience as an HCA.

• Aims of immunisation: national policy and schedules
• The immune system and how vaccines work
• The different types of vaccines - live vs inactivated
• The various disease processes involved in the procedures
• The safe administration of drugs via intramuscular injection
• Use of Patient Specific Directions
• The safety issues related to giving injections to the general adult population
• Legal aspects of prescription drugs and vaccines
• Storage and handling of vaccines
• Risk awareness
• Risk assessment
• Correct administration of vaccines
• Contraindications to B12 injections and flu/pneumonia/shingles vaccines
• Anaphylaxis and adverse events
• Documentation, record keeping and reporting
• The law relating to practice, accountability and prescribing
• Recognition of own limitations
• Personal and professional development
• All delegates will participate in a skills workshop to learn the necessary skills to perform safe injection technique.

This programme is based on the PHE National minimum standards and core curriculum for immunisation training of healthcare support workers (2015), guidance of professional bodies and the Department of Health 'Immunisation against Infectious Disease' 2006 ('Green Book') online and PHE update letters.

All delegates MUST complete pre-course e-learnng which will emailed to them prior to the course. Delegates must also pass a MCQ paper on their training days. On completion of the course, all delegates will have to undergo a period of supervised practice in their workplace and formal assessment of competency.

• HCAs
• APs

• Current issues in flu, pneumococcal and shingles vaccination
• Recent epidemiology of vaccine flu, pneumococcal and shingles disease
• Any relevant/recent changes to the recommendations national policy for flu, pneumococcal and shingles immunisation
• The different types of vaccines
• Review of PSDs and protocols
• Any changes to legislation relevant to vaccination
• Support strategies
• Current practice and identification of areas for improvement

Discussion and sharing of good practice.

• Practice Nurses

• Risk assessment
• Disease awareness
• Travel vaccines - including the different vaccines available and the various schedules
• Travel advice
• Information sources
• Potential problems and how to address them
• Relevant policies and procedures
• Assessment of and communication with patients
• Obtaining informed consent
• Malaria - including the importance of bite prevention, chemoprophylaxis and patient education
• Infection control and safe disposal of equipment
• Legal aspects of vaccination including the use of PGDs and PSDs
• Documentation, record keeping and reporting
• The law relating to practice, accountability and prescribing
• Case studies
• Personal and professional development

On completion of the course, all delegates will have to undergo a period of supervised practice in their workplace and formal assessment of competency.

• Practice Nurses

• Risk assessment
• Disease awareness
• Travel vaccines
• Travel advice
• Information sources
• Potential problems and how to address them
• Relevant policies and procedures
• Assessment of and communication with patients patients including the last minute and complex traveller
• Malaria chemoprophylaxis and patient education
• Documentation, record keeping and reporting
• Case studies

• Practice Managers
• HCAs
• Receptionists
• Administration Staff

• Examining what is meant by the term chaperone
• Understanding the need for a chaperone
• Exploring what an "intimate examination" is
• Awareness of the rights of the patient
• Understanding the role and responsibility of a chaperone
• Identifying the mechanism for raising concern
• Policies and procedures
• Documentation

• Practice nurses
• Nurse Practitioners

• LARC methods – implants, coils and injectables
• Hormonal methods (combined & progestogens) – advantages & disadvantages of both
• The consultation & minimum criteria before prescribing / repeating pill scripts
• Hypertension & the pill
• Thrombophilia & the pill
• Family history / Obesity / Long Haul Flights etc
• Over 35s / Smokers
• Migraine (with or without aura)
• Efficacy of the pill and contraindications
• Missed pill recommendations
• Starting the pill
• Acne & Dianette
• Emergency contraception
• All other methods of contraception including new innovations and developments

This programme focuses on enabling HCPs to improve their contraceptive consultations, offering patients a breadth of choice and accurate information, being able to perform safe pill checks, discuss emergency contraception and offer the most appropriate method and safely administer injectable contraceptives.

Particular emphasis is paid to how to use the UKMEC (UK Medical Eligibility Criteria).

• Health Care Assistants working in Primary Care

• The law relating to practice, accountability and delegation
• The relevant anatomy, physiology and various disease processes involved in the procedures
• Measurement of:
  • Pulse
  • Temperature
  • Respirations
  • Blood Pressure
  • Blood Glucose
  • Peak Flow
  • Urinalysis
  • Pulse Oximetry
  • Inhaler techniques
  • Documentation and record keeping
  • How to achieve competence
  • Supervision
  • The role of your mentor
  • How to maintain competencies by regular practice and updates
  • Recognition of their limitations and know where to seek help and advice as necessary

All delegates will participate in a skills workshop to learn and practice the necessary skills.
On completion of the course, all delegates will have to undergo a period of supervised practice in their workplace and formal assessment of competency.

• Practice Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• District Nurses

Review of:

• What is the impact of Hypertension?
• What do the guidelines say?
• Diagnosing Hypertension: Clinic vs Home readings
• Assessing target organ damage: What do we need to know?
• Managing Hypertension: A to C
• What about Lifestyle?
• Adherence: How do we get them to take their tablets?
• Discussion and sharing of good practice

• Practice Nurses (New to Practice)
• Practice Nurses (New to Respiratory Care)

Review of:

• Anatomy and Physiology of the respiratory system
• What is asthma?
• Asthma diagnosis and management in Primary Care including current guidelines and evidence based diagnostic and treatment pathways
• Symptoms associated with asthma
• The use of peak flow in asthma
• The role of spirometry in asthma
• Lifestyle, personal and environmental factors associated with asthma
• An overview of commonly used inhalers in asthma
• Encouraging self-management and the use of personal asthma action plans
• Recognising and managing acute asthma
• Accountability

• Practice Nurses
• Nurse Practioners
• GPs

Review of:

• Latest guidance on diagnosis of asthma
• The role of history and objective tests such as spirometry and peak flow
• Management pathways - BTS/SIGN vs NICE
• What makes a good asthma review
• Assessing asthma control
• Personalised asthma action plans
• Assessment and management of acute asthma

• Practice Nurses (New to Practice)
• Practice Nurses (New to Respiratory Care)

Review of:

• Anatomy and Physiology of the respiratory system
• What is COPD?
• Diagnosis and assessment of COPD
• Symptoms associated with COPD
• The role of spirometry in COPD
• Lifestyle, personal and environmental factors associated with COPD
• An overview of commonly used inhalers in COPD
• Pulmonary rehabilitation
• Oxygen therapy
• The management and prevention of COPD exacerbations
• End of life care
• National guidelines in COPD
• Accountability

• Practice Nurses
• Nurse Practioners
• GPs

Review of:

• Latest guidance on diagnosis of COPD
• Quality assured spirometry and basics of interpretation
• Symptom management: inhaled therapy according to GOLD and NICE
• Non-pharmacological management of symptoms
• What makes a good COPD review?
• Assessing the impact of disease and identifying co-morbidities
• Self management and rescue packs
• Assessment and management of acute exacerbations
• Identifying palliative care needs

• HealthCare Assistants

Review of:

• Anatomy and Physiology of the respiratory system
• What is asthma?
• What is COPD?
• Symptoms associated with asthma/COPD
• The use of peak flow in asthma
• The role of spirometry in both asthma and COPD
• Lifestyle, personal and environmental factors associated with asthma/COPD
• An overview of commonly used inhalers in asthma/COPD
• Boundaries and role of the HCA in asthma and COPD managment
• National guidelines in asthma and COPD
• Accountability

• Practice Nurses
• District Nurses
• HCAs

Review of:

• Overview of cardiac anatomy & physiology
• The coronary circulation
• When should we do an ECG?
• What can the ECG tell us?
• How to record the perfect 12 lead ECG?
• Is it normal?
• 6 steps to interpreting the 12 lead ECG
• Is it normal?
• Common Cardiac Arrhythmias
• When to ask for expert help
• Troubleshooting the 12 lead ECG
• Discussion and sharing of good practice

• Practice Nurses
• Nurse Practioners
• District Nurses
• HCAs

Review of:

• The Big Problem: Cardiovascular disease in the UK today
• Update on Coronary Heart Disease, what's happening in the arteries
• What do the guidelines say?
• The Fab Four: Pharmacological management of CHD
• Does lifestyle really matter?
• Supporting behaviour change
• Practicalities of running the CHD clinic
• Adding value to the annual review
• Discussion and sharing of good practice

• Practice Nurses
• Nurse Practioners
• District Nurses
• HCAs

Review of:

• Cardiovascular disease in the UK today
• The NHS Health Checks Programme
• Practicalities of running NHS Health Checks
• Assessing CVD risk
• Communicating CVD risk to enable change
• Pharmacological management of CVD risk
• Supporting behaviour change
• Discussion and sharing of good practice

• Nursing associates
• Practice nurses new to practice
• Practice nurses new to diabetes care

Review of:

• What is diabetes?
• Symptoms associated with diabetes
• Understanding diet and lifestyle factors associated with diabetes
• National guidelines in diabetes diagnosis and management
• An overview of commonly used drugs in diabetes
• The role of annual review in optimal diabetes management
• How to encourage self-management
• Structured diabetes education
• Blood results and what they mean
• Blood glucose control and monitoring
• Recognising signs of vascular disease and neuropathic conditions
• Understanding foot checks and diabetic foot care