Virtual College expands online patient safety training courses in response to increase in diabetes

Working closely with NHS England’s Patient Safety Domain, Virtual College is positioned to release seven additional online patient safety training courses, before the end of the year. In hospital beds alone, diabetes patients cost the NHS an estimated £10bn a year - yet many staff do not know how to treat the condition.

Judith Clarkson, Director of Virtual College’s Health and Social Care Division said: “The availability of The National Patient Safety Suite is very timely. “Health officials and the Institute of Diabetes for Older People, have recently expressed major concerns in basic diabetes care and underlined how important it is for organisations to provide patient safety training.”

Since the launch of the National Patient Safety Suite in April this year, over 60 healthcare organisations have already subscribed to the online training suite.

Dr Fiona Campbell, Clinical Lead for the National Children and Young People’s Diabetes Network is urging all trusts with a Paediatric Diabetes Unit to subscribe to the NPSS.

Dr Campbell stated: “Training on The Safe Use of Insulin must be given in all organisations and the National Curriculum for the Training of Healthcare Professionals Who Care for Children and Young People with Diabetes Mellitus Level 1 (Basic Awareness) is essential and fundamental training for staff who work in this area.”

The NPSS already comprises six safety online training modules, developed in partnership with NHS England; The Safe Use of Intravenous Insulin Infusions, The Safe Management of Hypoglycaemia, The Safe Use of Non-Insulin Therapies for Diabetes, the Safe Use of Pen Devices, Paediatric Diabetes Level 1 and the Safe Use of Insulin.

The addition of seven new patient safety courses will take the total number of online courses within the suite to 13, making the suite the most comprehensive collection of online patient safety training available.

Production of the new training courses is already under way and includes the following subject areas: Diabetes during end of life care; diabetes, dementia depression and severe mental illness; managing diabetes in pregnancy; the diabetic foot; omitted and delayed medicines and harm and medicines overdose.

Work is also progressing on a course to give the public information about how physical activity can improve their health and how to get themselves and their families involved in more outdoor activities. With more than a third of adults on the cusp of developing type 2 diabetes, this course aims to protect people from developing many diseases including diabetes. Subscription to the suite is based on 12 months unlimited training access for all staff, to all of the available courses. Different options are available for individuals, small, medium and large organisations.

For more information call Matthew Dickinson: 01943 885086 or email matthew.dickinson@virtual-college.co.uk

For course details visit http://www.healthcareea.co.uk/patient_safety_training_suite