SECAmb is providing key PPE training to acute hospitals across the South East, to cover High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) scenarios.

Utilising its specialist trainers experienced in these situations, a SECAmb team has created a bespoke course to train NHS staff on how to safely use the PPE ensemble recommended for assessing HCID patients.

NHS England has instructed there should be a unified approach regarding PPE for acute hospitals across the country when dealing with suspected HCID cases, creating a need for more training options.

“We have been collaborating with the UK’s only supplier of HCID PPE training – HCID Training UK in Sheffield – and have created a course for the south of the country based on their template and governance,” said Matt Hopkins, SECAmb’s HCID Educational Lead.

“We are making the most of our trainers in the Hazardous Area Response Teams and Special Operations Response Teams,” he said. “Two courses are available, the Wearer and the Trainer. In the first, we teach how to wear the PPE, how to correctly don and doff it, and how to be a ‘buddy’ to help a colleague with their PPE which is very important as well. It’s a whole day course with practical exercises and simulations.

“In the second course, candidates are taught the skills required to train their own staff. For the active scenarios, we use UV spray to mimic contamination, showing the candidates the potential to spread and how to reduce contamination while also gaining trust in the PPE’s effectiveness.”

The external training course is open to any staff that could be expected to wear, or train, the Unified HCID PPE ensemble. For further information, contact Matt Hopkins via matt.hopkins@secamb.nhs.uk.