Citation

Graham CA, Hearns ST. J. Accid. Emerg. Med. 1999; 16(5): 336-338.

Affiliation

Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10505912

PMCID

PMC1347051

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the present levels of training for the medical incident officer (MIO) and the mobile medical team leader (MMTL) throughout the UK. METHOD: Postal questionnaire to consultants in charge of accident and emergency (A&E) departments seeing more than 30,000 patients a year. Information regarding MIO staffing and training and MMTL training and provision requested. RESULTS: A&E provides the majority of both MIOs and MMTLs in the event of a major incident. Virtually all MIOs are consultants or general practitioners. However, 63% of MMTLs are from hospital training grade staff. One third of hospitals required their designated MIO to have undertaken a Major Incident Medical Management and Support course and a quarter had no training requirement at all. Two thirds of MMTLs were expected to have completed an Advanced Trauma Life Support course, but in 21% there was no minimum training requirement. Training exercises are infrequent, and hence the exposure of any one individual to exercises will be minimal. CONCLUSION: There has been some improvement in major incident training and planning since 1992, but much remains to be done to improve the national situation to an acceptable standard.

Language: en