First Aid Training Policies for Special Constables who are Practicing Medical Professionals
Keywords
First Aid, Training, Policies, Special, Constables, Practicing, Medical, Professionals, Qualified, Paid, Employment, Annual, Learning, Programme, Standard, Exemption, Mandatory, Exempt, Roles, Registrations, Ambulance, Policy, Limitations.
Publication Number
PUB 1438
FOI Reference Number
17151
Request Title
First Aid Training Policies for Special Constables who are Practicing Medical Professionals
Date Range
N/A
Information Requested
This is a FOI request concerning your force's first aid training policies in respect of your Special Constables who are qualified and practicing medical professionals in their paid employment.
1) Do you require all Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals to complete your force's full annual first aid training to the College of Policing First Aid Learning Programme standard (FALP) standard, or do any officers currently have an exemption from mandatory first aid training because of other qualifications?
2) If you exempt any Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals from first aid training then please can you tell me what qualifications, job roles or current professional registrations (eg HCPC, NMC, GDC, GMC etc) you grant such exemptions to.
3) If you exempt any Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals from first aid training then please can you tell me if you extend that exemption to qualified Ambulance Technicians who are not registered by the HCPC.
4) If you have a policy covering the exemption of Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals from first aid training then please can I have a copy of that policy.
5) If you exempt any Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals from first aid training then please can you tell me approximately how many officers currently have such an exemption.
6) Do you place limitations on medical procedures that Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals may perform whilst on duty as police officers? For example, would you allow a practising consultant anaesthetist to intubate a patient whilst on duty as a Special Constable, when they are trained and qualified to do so in their paid employment, but that advanced medical procedure is not covered in the mandatory annual FALP training.
7) If you do place limitations on medical procedures that Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals may perform whilst on duty as police officers, then please can you tell me how you communicate this restriction to those officers.
Disclosure with Exemptions
Full Disclosure
Information Correct as at
14 June 2022
Date of Disclosure
11 July 2022
Related Documents/Links
N/A
FOI 17151 Response
1) Do you require all Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals to complete your force's full annual first aid training to the College of Policing First Aid Learning Programme standard (FALP) standard, or do any officers currently have an exemption from mandatory first aid training because of other qualifications?
All Specials including practicing medical professionals complete the force initial and annual refresher first aid training.
2) If you exempt any Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals from first aid training then please can you tell me what qualifications, job roles or current professional registrations (eg HCPC, NMC, GDC, GMC etc) you grant such exemptions to.
N/A
3) If you exempt any Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals from first aid training then please can you tell me if you extend that exemption to qualified Ambulance Technicians who are not registered by the HCPC.
N/A
4) If you have a policy covering the exemption of Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals from first aid training then please can I have a copy of that policy.
N/A
5) If you exempt any Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals from first aid training then please can you tell me approximately how many officers currently have such an exemption.
None.
6) Do you place limitations on medical procedures that Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals may perform whilst on duty as police officers? For example, would you allow a practising consultant anaesthetist to intubate a patient whilst on duty as a Special Constable, when they are trained and qualified to do so in their paid employment, but that advanced medical procedure is not covered in the mandatory annual FALP training.
Specials are encouraged to act as police officers first whilst on duty and in uniform. There is nothing in writing to stop a medical professional from doing what they can at a scene were first aid is required. Specials do not carry additional equipment to deal with complex medical procedures.
7) If you do place limitations on medical procedures that Special Constables who are practicing medical professionals may perform whilst on duty as police officers, then please can you tell me how you communicate this restriction to those officers.
This would be discussed during their first aid training.
You may also be interested in viewing our procedures regarding training special constables and providing first aid:
C2004 Procedure - Specials Training | Essex Police
C2001 Procedure - First Aid | Essex Police
Likewise you may also be interested in further articles on special constables through the link below via our publication scheme:
Special Constables | Essex Police