BBO Training

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.