National Poisons Information Service hosts first virtual CPD training event, 23-24 September 2020

On 23-24 September 2020 the first virtual National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) event was hosted by the Cardiff unit of NPIS. Unlike previous events, the CPD sessions were held using an internet-based conferencing facility that allowed participants to dial in from home, work and even abroad.

The new virtual CPD days allowed 61 participants to attend on each day and for the sessions to be recorded and watched at a later date by a wider audience. Attendees were present from all four NPIS units (Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Newcastle), the Belfast and Dublin Poisons Centres, Public Health England, Guys & St Thomas’s Hospital and the University of Oxford.

Presentations were given on snake envenomations, corrosive ingestions, lead exposure, trialling of new antidotes for paracetamol poisoning and the unveiling of the new NPIS website. The sessions were able to host live polls and attendees were able to ask questions through the chat function, as well as raise hands and ask questions to the speakers live through the video function.

There was even a virtual pub quiz on the Wednesday evening that was well attended and enjoyed by all. Feedback has been very positive and, as a result, the NPIS are looking into further virtual CPD sessions that could be delivered on a more regular basis and be open to a wider audience.