The seventh annual Safe Patient Care Course which is jointly run by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) will take place in September 2016. This year the course is targeting frontline healthcare workers in residential care settings and is aimed at those who are not infection control specialists. The course will address key topics which have been highlighted during the point prevalence survey of healthcare associated infections and antibiotic use in long term care facilities which have taken place across Ireland, most recently in May 2016. This course is suitable for those wishing to update their core infection prevention and control knowledge and skills.

The course will take place in the Houston lecture theatre, RCSI, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin on Tuesday 6^th, Wednesday 7th, Tuesday 13^th & Wednesday 14^th September 2016 from 9am-4pm.

After completing this course, attendees will have an understanding of:

• The chain of infection, basic microbiology and multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs)
• Standard and transmission-based precautions
• Aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT)
• Management of invasive medical devices & wounds
• Outbreak management
• Antimicrobial stewardship
• Quality & patient safety

All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance. An application for continuing education units from the nursing and midwifery board of Ireland (NMBI) has been approved.

The course costs €100. The low cost is due to the support and commitment of the RCSI and the lecturers who give their time and resources for free. In addition, HPSC and the RSCI do not receive additional resources to administer the course.

Information on how to register can be accessed through the HPSC website and www.rcsi.ie.