First aid policy

1 Introduction

First aid is immediate temporary care for the ill and injured with the intention of preserving life, preventing an injured or ill person’s condition from worsening and supporting the patient emotionally. This may include treating minor injuries or taking charge where an injury or illness requires further treatment by a medical professional until the patient can be taken to hospital.

This policy sets out the objectives and arrangements for first aid provision in compliance with the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 (amended 2013), Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

The minimum first-aid provision (as specified in the first aid regulations) in any working environment is:

a suitably stocked first aid box
an appointed person(s) to take charge of first-aid
information for employees about first aid arrangements

2 Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to set out arrangements for the provision of first aid for employees who are injured or become ill at work. This includes providing sufficient numbers of first aid trained staff and adequate and appropriate facilities and equipment to be able to deal with accidents, injuries and illness occurring in the workplace. It is important to remember that accidents can happen at any time. First aid provision therefore needs to be available at all times within a workplace.

What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ will depend on the circumstances in the workplace as different work activities involve different hazards. Risk assessments must be carried out to determine what level of first aid provision is needed, taking into account working patterns.

The regulations apply to all workplaces including those with less than five members of staff.

3 Scope

This policy applies to all staff who are engaged to perform work duties by the trust within all its workplaces.

This policy also applies to all agency contractors engaged on trust duties within trust workplaces.

Reference should be made to the following trust policies when considering the provision of first aid facilities for remote or agile workers:

4 Responsibilities, accountabilities and duties

4.1 Chief executive

The chief executive has specific accountability to ensure that responsibilities for health and safety, including the provision and management of first aid is effectively assigned, accepted and managed at all levels in the trust consistent with good practice. This duty is delegated to others within the trust.

4.2 Executive directors

Executive directors have delegated responsibility for the management of health and safety, including ensuring that there are suitable and sufficient arrangements and resources for first aid and to ensure this policy is implemented throughout the trust. This is further delegated to managers and supervisors.

4.3 Health and safety lead

The Health and safety lead will assist the trust in undertaking the measures needed to comply with relevant statutory provisions as required by the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations. This will include the provision of relevant health and safety information and advice and review of this policy.

4.4 Managers and supervisors

Managers and supervisors have delegated responsibility for implementing the policy within their departments. This includes:

bringing this policy to the attention of staff within their area of responsibility
encouraging staff to report all incidents that involve the provision of first aid using the trust’s incident reporting system
ensuring that a first aid needs assessment is carried out, reviewed annually and updated if the work pattern and workplace environmental hazards alter
communicating significant findings from assessments to staff within their area of responsibility
ensuring that there are adequate first aid facilities in place, including adequate numbers of trained first aiders (including cover for annual leave and any other foreseeable absence) and suitably stocked first aid kits
ensuring that the designated staff appointed control and maintain first-aid and first aid facilities at all times. This includes carrying out monthly checks on first aid boxes to ensure adequate in date supplies are maintained

4.5 First aiders

Where the risk assessment identifies that a first aider or emergency first aider must be appointed, duties include:

providing first-aid to any person injured, or falling ill on trust premises
taking charge of the casualty until a satisfactory recovery is achieved, or appropriate medical personnel have taken charge of the casualty
looking after first aid equipment, such as maintaining the content of the first aid box, by carrying out checks on a monthly basis

Calling the emergency services, if needed.

4.6 Appointed person

If it is not considered necessary to have a first aider, then an appointed person is required. The role of the appointed person is to take charge of an incident which involves injury or illness. It would be beneficial if the appointed person underwent some first aid training.

The appointed person will check the condition and contents of each first-aid box, positioned within their area of control, to check that it is properly and promptly replenished on a monthly basis.

4.7 All staff

All staff have a responsibility to:

report all accidents or near misses that occur via the trust’s incident reporting system available through the trust intranet site
to assist any person who is injured or ill in the best way they can, even if all they can do is summon a first aider or appointed person or call an ambulance

5 Procedure or implementation

Under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, the number of first aiders, equipment and facilities required is based on carrying out a first aid needs assessment (see appendices A and B). Provision of first aid treatment for non-employees does not fall within the scope of the regulations, but the trust does ask managers to consider the first aid needs of non-employees when completing first aid risk assessments.

First aid provision is most efficiently and effectively dealt with on a workplace by workplace basis, so managers within shared premises such as leased properties, integrated teams, agile working areas etc. must liaise with one another and make decisions based on risk assessment when deciding upon the level of provision necessary.

5.1 Staff trained in first aid

In the work place there are normally three levels of first aid staff:

appointed person
emergency first aider
first aider

The main difference in the three types is the level of training required.

Under the legislation, there should always be an appointed person, but these duties can be taken over by a first aider if one is required. A fourth level may be required for first aid at work with specialist training for specific hazards. This would include staff trained in mental health first aid, who are available in the trust.

The type and number of first aid staff must be determined by risk assessment of the working environment (see appendices A and B).

5.1.1 First aider

A qualified first aider has undertaken the highest level of training of the three levels. This involves attendance at a first aid at work three-day training course. This requires trained persons to be able to administer first aid to a casualty with:

injuries to bones, muscles and joints, including suspected spinal injuries
chest injuries
burns and scalds
head and eye injuries
sudden poisoning
anaphylactic shock
recognise the presence of major illness (including heart attack, stroke, epilepsy, asthma, diabetes) and provide appropriate first aid

5.1.2 Emergency first aider

In low risk work environments, such as offices, a risk assessment may indicate that only emergency first aid is required. Staff trained in emergency first aid attend a 1-day course that includes training in adult resuscitation and treatment of burns, bleeding, seizures and shock.

5.1.3 Appointed person

If a first aid risk assessment indicates that you do not need a trained first aider an appointed person must be identified to take responsibility for first aid arrangements under the legislation, there should always be an appointed person, but these duties can be taken over by a first aider if one is required.

The first aid training of an appointed person may be minimal, therefore an appointed person should not attempt to administer first aid for which they have not been trained, though short emergency first aid training courses are available.

An appointed person should be available at all times when staff are at work on site, this may mean appointing more than one person.

5.1.4 Exemptions

Provided they can demonstrate current knowledge and skills in first aid the training and experience of the following persons qualifies them to administer first-aid in the workplace without the need to hold a first aid qualification:

doctors registered and licensed with the general medical council
nurses registered with the nursing and midwifery council
paramedics registered with the health and professional council

5.2 Provision of first aid equipment and facilities

The minimum item of equipment is a first aid box which requires checking monthly and after each use by the appointed person or first aider. Details of the suggested contents are given in appendix B. The British standard BS 8599-1: January 2019 detailing the content of different types and sizes of first aid kits came into force in March 2019. However, compliance with this is not a legal requirement, but it provides useful guidance.

5.3 Reporting incidents where first aid has been given

If an injury or sudden illness occurs, the normal incident reporting procedure should be followed. The trust’s electronic incident reporting form (IR1) (via the trust intranet) should be completed with details of the action taken, including any action by the first aider present. There may be other reporting requirements such as serious accidents or injuries reportable under the reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations (RIDDOR) or the serious untoward incident reporting process.

5.4 Implementation

All trust workplace areas are required to complete risk assessments to establish the adequate provision of first aid trained staff, equipment and facilities.

In any workplace areas with a sufficiently high risk, nominated staff will require to be trained as first aiders. A further decision on what type of first aider is needed will also need to be made; Either a first aider or an emergency first aider is required. Appendices A and B will guide the manager through this decision-making process.

The first aid needs of travelling, remote or lone or agile or hybrid working environments and staff working away from their main site need to be accounted for. Risk assessments should be completed to determine whether those who travel long distances or are continuously mobile should carry a personal first aid kit. Consideration of special arrangements should be given to Staff working in remote areas such as issuing mobile phones and providing additional training.

Staff must be made aware of the first aid arrangements. Putting up notices telling staff who and where the first aiders or appointed persons are and where the first aid box is will usually be enough. Special arrangements may need to be made to give first aid information to employees with reading or language difficulties.

6 Training implications

Training needs are risk assessment based, so the requirements may change depending on the circumstances of the working environment, the actual work being completed and the number of staff present in the work area (see appendices A and B).

To access first aid training, contact the trust learning and development department.

For an individual to demonstrate they have a competency in first aid or emergency first aid at work they must hold a certificate that contains the following information as a minimum:

name of training organisation
name of qualification
name of individual
a validity period of three years from the date of course completion; and
an indication that the certificate has been issued for the purposes of complying with the requirements of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981

7 Monitoring arrangements

7.1 Completion of an annual risk assessment to decide the first-aid provision required

How: Premises inspection.
Who: Designated managers or their deputies.
Reported to: Health, safety and security forum.
Frequency: Annually.

7.2 Completion of regular checks of the first-aid equipment

How: Premises inspection.
Who: Designated managers or their deputies.
Reported to: Health, safety and security forum.
Frequency: Annually.

7.3 Maintenance of a record of first aiders holding the certified first aid at work or certified emergency first aid at work course

How: Annual check to keep the record up to date.
Who: Designated managers or their deputies.
Reported to: Health, safety and security forum.
Frequency: Annually.

8 Equality impact assessment screening

To access the equality impact assessment for this policy, please email rdash.equalityanddiversity@nhs.net to request the document.

8.1 Privacy, dignity and respect

The NHS constitution states that all patients should feel that their privacy and dignity are respected while they are in hospital. High Quality Care for All (2008), Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS, identifies the need to organise care around the individual, “not just clinically but in terms of dignity and respect”.

As a consequence the trust is required to articulate its intent to deliver care with privacy and dignity that treats all service users with respect. Therefore, all procedural documents will be considered, if relevant, to reflect the requirement to treat everyone with privacy, dignity and respect, (when appropriate this should also include how same sex accommodation is provided).

8.1.1 How this will be met

No issues have been identified in relation to this policy.

8.2 Mental Capacity Act (2005)

Central to any aspect of care delivered to adults and young people aged 16 years or over will be the consideration of the individuals’ capacity to participate in the decision-making process. Consequently, no intervention should be carried out without either the individual’s informed consent, or the powers included in a legal framework, or by order of the court.

Therefore, the trust is required to make sure that all staff working with individuals who use our service are familiar with the provisions within the Mental Capacity Act (2005). For this reason all procedural documents will be considered, if relevant to reflect the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) to ensure that the rights of individual are protected and they are supported to make their own decisions where possible and that any decisions made on their behalf when they lack capacity are made in their best interests and least restrictive of their rights and freedoms.

8.2.1 How this will be met

All individuals involved in the implementation of this policy should do so in accordance with the guiding principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (section 1).

9 Links to any associated documents

10 References

11 Appendices

11.1 Appendix A First aid risk assessment

Appendix A First aid risk assessment (staff access only) (opens in new window)

11.2 Appendix B Flow chart of first aid risk assessment

Appendix B Flow chart of first aid risk assessment (staff access only) (opens in new window)

Document control

Version: 6.1.
Unique reference number: 213.
Approved by: Corporate policies approval group
Date approved: 11 January 2024.
Name of originator or author: Health and safety lead.
Name of responsible individual: Health, safety and security forum and executive director nursing and allied health professionals.
Date issued: 12 January 2024.
Review date: August 2025.
Target audience: All trust staff.

Page last reviewed: November 14, 2024
Next review due: November 14, 2025

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