The HSE also "strongly advise" an annual refresher in between the 3 year requalifications - so it's supposed to be an annual refresher for all.

It's a recommendation not absolute rule

The rulings on the qualifications came about October 2010. This was as a result of consultations with the Resus council UK, HSE, training centres and trainers.
Reasoning behind the move to optional, but highly recommended annual 1/2 day refresher for all, was because during a three year period, the length of qualification, there have on many occassions been changes in medical procedures, through research and pracitse, and it was felt that if 1st aiders and appointed/emergency 1st aiders did not utilise their skills in the intervening period, then both knowledge and skills would seriously lessen.

What is legally required and what is recommended are two entirely different things. You must comply with the law, thats the first point to achieve. The second is only strongly recommended therefore has no force in practice whatsoever. I would cjoose to comply with the law as the first standard and then look at the risks within the workplace and balance that against the level of change in first aid practice and then decide if the additional training and costs are worthwhile. There is often a money making gambit in alot of these recommendations but the employer needs to decide on a calcualted basis if it is worthwhile.

There's a bit of a mix-up in that question, I think, in that appointed person and emergency first aider are two different roles with different requirements.

My understanding is:

First Aid at Work is the 3 day (18 hours) course. You get a certificate and/or card with words such as "Approved for the purposes of the Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations" and have an HSE reference number. FAW expires after 3 years and the refresher is a shorter course. More frequent refreshers are recommended but not legally required.

Emergency First Aid at Work is the one day (6 hours) course for lower-risk workplaces. EFAW expires after 3 years and refresher is just to do the whole thing again. More frequent refreshers are recommended but not legally required.

Appointed Person doesn't require a course at all, is only for low risk workplaces with small number of people, and the appointed person is basically just the bod designated to look after the first aid box and call an ambulance - they don't have first aid competence.

Off-shore is different. Diving operations are different.

We have decided as an organisation not to go down the road of the recommended annual refresher first aid courses as it is not a legal requirement, and I don't think you could be criticised for complying with the law as it stands.

Going back to the original post, and aside from all of the other responses, the 2 HSE recognised first aid courses are:

1. FAW (3 days - NOT 4)
2. EFAW (1 day).

BOTH are valid for 3 years (para 62 of the guidance)

EFAW and appointed persons are 2 DIFFERENT things. The first is a first aider the other is an ...... appointed person. The latter does NOT need any first aid training (para 69)

The REGS haven't changed, the guidance has.

Some form of refresher seems sensible to me. I don't see that the HSE recommendation can be construed as a money spinner. Not to them at least! Our NPLQ do refresher training every month.