NEAS opens dedicated emergency response training centre

The dedicated Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) training facility in Washington will allow Specialist Operations Response Team (SORT) Operatives to receive specialist training for more complex emergencies.

EPRR focuses upon the planning and health response to a wide range of incidents and emergencies to ensure that the NHS can respond to major incidents effectively. The EPRR arrangements include delivering specialist training to staff to respond to a major or complex incident such as marauding terrorist attacks and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents.

The type of training delivered in the Resilience Training Centre will include training for the Specialist Operations Response Team (SORT). SORT trained staff are drawn from our dedicated teams of operational Paramedics, Clinical Care Assistants and other emergency responders across the Trust. Staff who complete this role are all volunteers and receive annual training across six days to complete their training.

The Resilience Training Centre will deliver ongoing training for our Strategic, Tactical and Operational Commanders ensuring that they will have the skills, knowledge and confidence to manage a wide range of incidents. This includes regular fitness assessments, personal protective equipment (PPE), reflective practice, clinical training in hazardous areas and a programme of continued professional development.

Deputy Head of EPRR, Donna Hay said: "The new resilience training centre provides specialist dedicated facilities to ensure we can deliver high quality and realistic training for our staff for major incidents such as terrorist attacks or chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents.

"Prepare our teams for the challenging circumstances they might experience as part of their role helps to ensure that they are ready to provide their very best response to patients, if and when those incidents occur, in collaboration with our other partners in the emergency services."