HPA wins award for e-learning project

 The Health Protection Agency has won an award for an e-learning package that instructs doctors how to deal with major incidents.

The scheme, ‘Incident Management’, which is available to doctors for free on www.doctors.net.uk, was awarded ‘most conspicuous return on investment from an e-learning project’ in the E-Learning Awards 2005. The package explains to doctors how they should best cope with unexpected major events.

Professor Pat Troop, chief executive of the HPA, said: "It is hugely encouraging to know that frontline staff value and are taking full advantage of the Agency’s innovative approach to training. This award shows that e-learning is an effective training tool for health professionals."

The most recent module in the course, ‘Burns, Blast and Major Incidents’, was completed by 3000 GPs since its release in September. Doctors who complete the course are awarded a certificate and Continuing Professional Development points.

Nurses and allied health professionals will be able to participate in the programme soon. Professor Troop added: "We are developing further online training modules which will enable frontline staff to access the training they need at times that suit them best."

The first E-Learning Awards 2005 were sponsored by City & Guilds and the magazine E-Learning Age.