CARDIOPULMONARY-RESUSCITATION TRAINING - WHERE ARE WE NOW

The aim of this study was to assess the current situation with regard to cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and organisation 10 years af ter guidelines were published by the Royal College of Physicians. Ques tionnaires were sent to 100 UK hospital trusts (88 responses) and 200 general practitioners on Wirral, Merseyside (92 responses). Most trust s gave their staff annual training in CPR, but only 80% trained all st aff who came into contact with patients. Not all trusts employed resus citation training officers, carried out routine audit or had formal CP R policies. The majority of GPs had had no training in CPR for more th an five years. Only one practice had a defibrillator, yet 14% had need ed to carry out CPR in the past 12 months. Less than half the GPs ever discussed CPR with appropriate patients. The resuscitation service in this country is fragmented, and certain areas - particularly the trai ning of GPs - need attention.