How Often Should GP Surgery Staff Renew Their First Aid Training?
GP surgeries are busy, high-pressure environments where staff deal with everything from minor injuries to life-threatening emergencies. While most patients visit for routine care, medical emergencies can and do happen in primary care settings. That’s why ensuring your team is trained and up to date in first aid and resuscitation is not only good practice – it’s a requirement.
But how often should GP surgery staff renew their training?
What Do the Guidelines Say?
Resuscitation Council UK recommends that all clinical staff undergo annual updates in CPR and AED use.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) expects practices to provide evidence of regular training for all staff.
NHS England guidance also highlights that basic life support training must be refreshed at least once a year.
This applies not just to doctors and nurses, but to all practice staff who may be first on the scene in an emergency.
Why Annual Training Matters
Skill retention – CPR and first aid are practical skills that fade quickly without practice.
Team readiness – Emergencies are best managed when the whole team knows their role and responds confidently.
Patient safety – Immediate, effective resuscitation can double a patient’s chance of survival.
CQC inspections – Training records are often checked during inspections to ensure compliance.
Types of Training Recommended for GP Surgeries
At First Steps First Aid Ltd, we regularly deliver training tailored to GP surgeries across Hampshire and surrounding counties. Typical courses include:
Basic Life Support (BLS) and AED Training – Annual requirement for all staff.
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) – Covers workplace risks as well as patient-facing emergencies.
CPR and Medical Emergencies in Primary Care (recommended) – Focused on scenarios GP practices are most likely to face, including anaphylaxis, asthma attacks, and cardiac arrest. this training meets all requirements from resus council, CQC and HSE for your workplace.
How Often Should Each Be Renewed?
BLS/CPR & AED – Annually (minimum requirement).
First Aid at Work qualifications – Every 3 years, with refreshers recommended yearly.
CPR and Medical emergencies Training – Annually, ideally as part of your team’s mandatory training cycle.
Local Training You Can Rely On
We are based in Portsmouth and support GP surgeries across Hampshire, Dorset, West Sussex, Surrey, Wiltshire, and Berkshire. Our courses are delivered by registered paramedics who bring real-life experience into the training room, making sessions engaging, relevant, and highly practical.
We can run training on-site at your surgery or host your team at our training venue – whichever works best for you.
Our CPR and Medical Emergencies for GP practices is priced at $450 for up to 12 learners. Get in touch to book now!
Book Your GP Surgery Training Today
Keep your practice confident, compliant, and inspection-ready.
👉 Contact First Steps First Aid Ltd to arrange training for your team. Email us at Info@firststepsfirstaid.co.uk
