First aid training 481/2022

FOI Reference: 481/2022

Request:

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.

Response 1:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

• There are no special constables with an exemption from mandatory first aid training because of other qualifications.

Response 2&3:

• Not applicable, which is based on the response outlined in relation to question 1.

Response 4:

I can confirm that there is no information held/recorded as there is no specific Dyfed Powys police policy in relation to question 4 of your request.

Response 5:

• Not applicable, which is based on the response outlined in relation to question 1.

Response 6 & 7:

I can confirm that there is no information held/recorded by Dyfed Powys police in relation to questions 6 and 7 of your request.

                                                                                                           

It should be noted that owing to the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such matters the information provided may or may not be accurate. It should be noted that for these reasons this Force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 11/07/22)