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Competencies for recognising and responding to acutely ill patients in hospital

Patients in hospital are often at risk of becoming acutely ill, but there is a wealth of evidence showing that the recognition of, and response to, deterioration in patients by staff is often delayed, and sometimes inappropriate. As a result, in July 2007, NICE published clinical guidelines on the recognition and response to acutely ill patients (NICE clinical guideline 50).

This consultation document includes good practice guidance, prepared by professional experts, on the skills and competencies that should be available to staff who care for, or are likely to encounter acutely ill patients. It will not be mandatory, but is designed to inform and assist Trusts - as well as individual clinicians - with the implementation of the NICE guidelines.

Following the Consultation, it is expected that a summary of the responses will be published along with a final version of the Framework.

This consultation document sets out a framework of competencies for recognising and responding to acutely ill patients in hospital. Comments are invited on the document content and framework of competencies

• Download Consultation document (PDF, 564K)
• Download Equality Impact Assessment (PDF, 72K)
• Download Impact Assessment (PDF, 49K)