In 2023, the Office for National Statistics reported that there were 1,308,825 people employed full-time by NHS England, which marked a 34.5% increase compared to the previous decade. While the healthcare workforce comprises different professions, all staff are at risk of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), as are patients and visitors. IPC training must be ongoing and thorough to ensure efficient care and improved safety.
Standard infection control precautions (SICPs) must be used by all healthcare workers for all patients, regardless of infection status. SICPs form the basis of IPC training in healthcare. This is a critical aspect of emergency services, particularly for paramedics, ambulance crews and other first responders, who come into close contact with patients.
Keep reading to find out more about the top five resources for infection prevention and control training in healthcare and EMS.
1. NHS Infection Prevention and Control Guidance
The NHS (National Health Service) is the collective term for the four separate, publicly funded healthcare systems in the UK representing: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Through their IPC training programmes in healthcare and education, they provide a national framework that defines levels of competence, roles and the necessary knowledge and skills.
This sets the standard for training and appraisal structures, ensuring that what is learnt matches what is expected – particularly if your emergency medical services workers are interested in advancing beyond basic infection prevention and control. The NHS is committed to demonstrating a culture of ongoing ICP learning and development with an aim to mitigate, manage and eliminate infection outbreaks across all healthcare settings.
2. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
Formerly Public Health England, the HIS/UKHSA offers a foundational e-learning/hybrid course led by UK experts that aligns with national IPC training and education frameworks in healthcare. Their courses are Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certified and focus on:
- Basic IPC principles (the application of microbiology in clinical settings to prevent the transmission of infections)
- Built environment (a setting where technologies, organisational systems and staff, patients and visitors constantly interact)
- Transmission (preventing the spread of airborne viruses and bacteria)
- Decontamination (sanitising equipment and the environment)
- Surveillance (safe handling and disposal of clinical waste and sharps)
- PPE (equipment worn to minimise exposure to workplace hazards)
While not ambulance-specific, its content is broadly applicable to the EMS industry in terms of standard precautions and understanding workplace risks.
3. Infection Prevention Society (IPS)
The IPS is a British charity with a network of over 2,000 healthcare professionals specialising in infection and control. Its main objective is to help ensure that your facility internal IPC training meets national standards and consistency.
The IPS Skills for Health course covers core competencies and National Occupational Standards for IPC, and provides documents and resources to use for training and evaluation purposes, as well as outlining expected behaviours. First responders must act quickly due to their consistent exposure to hazardous conditions, and the risk of slips and trips is higher given the fast-paced nature of the job.
