Posted By JWG CALLING ALL NHS RISK MANAGERS & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSES OF AN ACUTE TRUST I have access to first aid guidances but it doesn't seem to give clear enough guidance for the NHS, please can someone help. Within my trust there is no first aid policy or risk assessments currently in place. I am new to my current post and I have dealt with first aid arrangements previously outside of the NHS and I must say it was much easier. Just a few of questions if I may: 1. Are first aid arrangements managed by the Occupational Health Dept within your trusts? The responsibility transfered from the Occupational Health Dept to me (Risk Manager) on my appointment (not within job description) but I feel it is part of what Occupational Health Depts do. 2. Is there a need for an appointed first aider (that needs to undertake the 4 day training)in a ward full of qualified nurses? Can I get away with just having appointed persons on every ward? Some nurses I have spoken to say they are nurses and should be able to administer first aid and others say they are not trained to administer first aid and would feel uncomfortable doing so. I have previously read that the FA regs/guidance will accept a registered nurse as a first aider. I want to be able to give a difinitive answer trust wide. 3. Is there a need for a seperate first aid box when on each ward there is a room full of the same contents? 4. Do you have a first aid trainer within your trusts? We send staff to off site to certified trainers but it is down to each department to arrange and fund. Please can I ask for good examples existing arrangements and practical solutions from within an NHS hospital setting. Merely qouting regs very rarely helps to find solutions for clinical areas in the NHS (no offence intended). Many thanks for your time

Posted By Saracen10 Provision of First Aid arrangements is largely due to the findings of a Risk Assessment in any organisation! A couple of points: 1. Not all nurses are trained in first aid, but ‘second aid’ i.e. the treatment of a diagnosed ailment or condition. That said, all registered nurses have a duty of care and the majority would not turn a blind eye (one would hope?) 2. Appointing trained First Aiders, and the provision of suitably stocked containers again depends on what is identified as being necessary within the Risk Assessment e.g. tasks, hazards, competency of staff, location (in terms of closeness) of the nearest hospital… etc. 3. As for every ward having a room full of First Aid equipment – I suspect you refer to the equipment rooms? If so, not every ward will stock the same items… some wards provide medical care others surgical. So whereas one room might be suitable, another one might not be. Good luck with this one, but I suspect if a RA is carried out you might find that your questions will be answered for you? Saracen10