Course Overview

This two-day Introduction to Minor Illness course is designed for nurses and allied healthcare professionals who are new to, or revisiting, minor illness assessment and management within Primary Care.

The programme supports clinicians in developing structured consultation skills, strengthening clinical reasoning, and managing common acute presentations seen in General Practice. Teaching progresses from foundational consultation principles through to confident decision-making across a range of minor illness presentations in both adults and children.

The course emphasises safe practice, red flag recognition, appropriate prescribing, and understanding when to escalate or refer. Learning is practical and case-based, supporting immediate application in clinical settings.

Who Should Attend

This course is suitable for:

Practice Nurses
Nurse Associates
Advanced Clinical Practitioners
Paramedics working in Primary Care
Primary Care Pharmacists
Clinicians developing minor illness roles

No prior minor illness qualification is required.

What This Course Covers

Day One – Consultation Structure and Acute Presentations

What constitutes a “good consultation”
Structured history-taking and examination
Fever and flu-like illness
Respiratory tract infections
- Including breath sound interpretation principles
Urinary tract infections
Ear, nose and throat conditions
Abdominal pain
Case-based learning

Day Two – Expanding Assessment Skills

Head, neck and back pain
Eye infections
Mental health (low mood) in acute settings
Acute skin rashes
Minor injuries
Case-based consolidation
Action planning for practice

Core Themes Throughout the Course

Clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis
Red flag recognition
Safe prescribing principles
When to initiate investigations
Communicating management plans clearly
Referral thresholds and escalation
Working within scope of practice
Documentation and governance

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Conduct structured and effective consultations
Assess and manage common minor illness presentations
Apply safe prescribing principles within scope of practice
Recognise red flags requiring urgent escalation
Identify when investigations are appropriate
Communicate management plans effectively to patients
Refer appropriately when needed
Reflect on professional development within minor illness practice

Course Format

Duration: Two full days

Delivery: Virtual or face-to-face

Format includes:

Structured teaching
Case-based discussion
Interactive clinical scenarios
Practical consultation frameworks
Reflection and action planning

Certification

Certificate of attendance provided for CPD and revalidation purposes.