Posted By Sean Warburton Hi all, Wondering if anyone can confirm something for me please. If an employee has an accident at work which requires hospital treatment but is relatively minor and does not require an ambulance, then at present we organise someone to take them to the hospital. Is there then a requirement for a first aider to accompany the injured party to hospital? My take on this is that if the first aider believes that the injured party my need assistance IE a foot injury ect or the individual appears distressed at all then the first aider as a competent person must make that decision on whether or not to accompany the injured party. One of my first Aid reps has told me they need to go to the hospital with every person, as you all will be aware many people are all too keen for a trip to A+E with the slightest of things, and as i understand it Hospitals don't currently have a shortage of First Aiders. Thanks for any help

Posted By Booney Hi Sean, The procedure we have in place is that if an IP has to be taken to hospital, they are chaperoned by a first aider/appointed person in addition to the driver of the vehicle. Reason for this is that if the first aider feels the injury is serious enough to warrant hospital treatment, they will accompany the IP just in case anything happens in the journey (e.g. fainting). Depending on the circumstances, the first aider usually returns after IP has been 'booked in' at A & E. Hope this helps!

Posted By Bob Shillabeer If the injury is serious enough for a first aider to accompany to hospital just in case its a case for an ambulance, end of story. On the issue of someone accompanying the IJ to hospital there are two reasons for doing so 1. To ensure the IJ is not left along and to ensure the correct info is given to A&E. 2. To enable a contact betwen hospital and office to update people about the progress of the IJ. My boss would want to know the serioiusness because if it is serious there is a need to notify next of kin etc and ensure they are able to get to the hospital or are there so many uncaring employers out there that no opne bothers with that sort of thing anymore.

Posted By Sean Warburton So i take it from that, there is no requirement under the first aid regs then? Some useful comments though guys, thanks all

Posted By Ken Taylor There is no strict legal requirement for this but some employers provide accompaniment as good practice. If an injured person needs first-aid presence whilst travelling, an ambulance is usually the best option. First-aiders are usually best employed at the workplace in case they are needed again. There has been previous discussion on this point so you could also trawl to archives for more opinions.

Posted By Ken Taylor If the casualty needs to be 'passed' to somebody, PNM, the paramedic that arrives with the ambulance will usually be the best option. Where the casualty is advised to go to hospital without benefit of ambulance, a judgement needs to be made as to accompaniment and to who can best be given this task. If you have more than enough first-aiders, then one of these could well be the most appropriate companion. Leaving the workplace without adequate first-aid cover, however, would appear to be a rather risky option. Like many accident situations, you do your best with what you've got whilst seeking to follow the current manual.