Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®)
Demand for ATLS® exceeds current availability. Please check back frequently for new courses or contact your local delivery centre (see below). We do not hold waiting lists for courses.
ATLS® is a global course, teaching a systematic process of trauma care for patients with life-threatening injuries.
Throughout this two-day interactive course, you will learn a range of comprehensive and adaptable trauma management skills relevant to all specialities.
The RCS is the only provider of ATLS® in the UK, teaching a safe and reliable method of immediate management of severely injured patients. The ATLS® programme has been adopted in over 80 countries around the world.
The format of this hybrid course includes a state-of-the-art and interactive e-learning tool which will enhance your learning experience and reduce the number of days attending the practical sessions from three to two. The pre-course e-learning is a mandatory requirement for this course and must be completed by 7am the day before the face-to-face course. It will take approximately 20-30 hrs to complete. You will find more information on the pre-course e-learning in the Format tab below.
Our priority is to provide training for doctors working for the NHS. Due to demand and limited availability, we do not accept applications from doctors working overseas.
To see a list of our current ATLS® course centres please click here (correct as of February 2023)
- £749.00
- 2 days
- 31.50 CPD Points
Suitability
This course is only suitable for doctors at FY2 grade and above, equivalent staff grades, eligible advanced clinical practitioners (ACP) and eligible hospital-based dentists.
ACPs can check their eligibility for the course with their local ATLS® centre or the RCS.
A hospital-based dentist must check their eligibility for the course with the RCS.
Learning Outcomes
After attending this course, you should be able to:
- Demonstrate the concepts and principles of the primary and secondary patient assessments
- Establish management priorities in a trauma situation
- Initiate primary and secondary management necessary for the emergency management of acute life-threatening conditions in a timely manner
- In a given simulation, demonstrate the skills related to ABCD which are often required during the initial assessment and treatment of patients with multiple injuries
Format
ATLS® is a highly interactive course, taught using a variety of practical techniques including simulated patient scenarios, unfolding scenarios stations, group discussions and tutorials.
Mandatory, pre-course e-learning
Before the course, you will be required to complete the pre-course e-learning consisting of an overview chapter, 13 modules and quizzes, and pre and post-module MCQs. It takes approximately 1-2 hrs to complete each module and may take up to 30 hrs to complete the e-learning. Full completion of the e-learning is a mandatory requirement to attend the course. Participants who have not completed the e-learning in full by 7am the day before the course will not be allowed to participate in the course and will forfeit their course fee.
Course participants will receive access to the pre-course e-learning resources on the RCS VLE via notification with login details four weeks before the course at the latest.
Course participants are also required to read the ATLS® participant course manual in full to prepare for the assessments on the course.
Assessment
You will be assessed throughout the course and must pass all assessed sessions to pass the course and be awarded ATLS® provider status.
There are interactive sessions and clinical scenario stations and your performance of practical skills and contribution to discussions which test participants’ core knowledge will be assessed throughout these sessions.
On the final day of the course, you will take an MCQ test consisting of 40 questions with a pass mark of 30/40. If you are unsuccessful on the course you can take up to two resits within three months of the course. You will not be given your answer sheet or told which questions you answered incorrectly. Reading the ATLS® participant manual prior to the course is the best preparation for the MCQs - there are no lectures in the face-to-face component of the course; you must arrive with a high level of clinical knowledge.
Moulage assessment will also take place on the last day of the course. You will be given a simulated clinical scenario and you will be assessed on the initial assessment and management of a patient according to objective assessment criteria. If you are unsuccessful in your first attempt on the course you will be given the opportunity to repeat the moulage assessment on the course using a different scenario. If unsuccessful, at the course director’s discretion, you might be given a final resit on another course.
If you have not met the minimum standard to pass the course you will not be given the opportunity to re-sit failed sessions and you will have to successfully complete another provider course to gain ATLS® provider status.
Additional Information
Course content
The ATLS® course consists of the following sessions
- Interactive discussions
- Initial Assessment
- Revision of the Core Content
- Trauma at Extremes of Age
- Trauma Team
- Scenario stations
- Airway (basic and paediatric, advanced and surgical)
- Breathing
- Circulation
- Disability
- Adjuncts
- Restriction of the Cervical Spine Motion (ROCSM)
- Secondary Survey
- Moulage practice and testing
- MCQs
- Triage/Transfer and Handover
- Interactive sessions and demonstrations
How to reverify your ATLS® Provider status
ATLS® provider status lasts for four years. To reverify, you can take our one-day ATLS® reverification course at any point within six months of your Provider status expiry date.
How to become an ATLS® Instructor
While participating in an ATLS® course, you may be nominated as having Instructor Potential (IP).
Faculty are looking for participants who demonstrate excellent core knowledge, a commitment to the ATLS® principles and the skills and attitude necessary for the role of an ATLS® instructor. You must also work at ST 4 level (or equivalent) or above.
If you have been nominated as an ATLS® IP, you will need to attend an ATLS® Instructor course. Please take a look at our list of ATLS® Instructor courses
Becoming an ATLS® instructor is a fulfilling way to further your professional development while sharing your trauma management knowledge with motivated course participants and colleagues. Alongside this, we are always keen to hear from people interested in becoming faculty for other RCS courses.
A globally-renowned course
The Royal College of Surgeons is proud to be the exclusive provider of ATLS® in the UK. The course and methodology were developed by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in 1978 and are now taught in over 80 countries.
Course Options - please note, you cannot book regional places through this website
Regional Centres
17
Apr
2023
-
18
Apr
2023
£650
Pricing notes:
Full price: £650
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
Royal Surrey County Hospital
Location:
Royal Surrey County HospitalEgerton Road
GUILDFORD
GU2 7XX
United Kingdom
rsc-tr.resus@nhs.net
01483 406889
Instructions:
Mr B Pasquier, rsc-tr.resus@nhs.net, 01483 406889 View in Google MapsBooking details
Pricing notes:
Full price: £650
Before booking at the centre, please follow these steps:
Have an account?
Please loginNot got an account?
Register to continueContact details:
Please contact the coordinator:
Mr B Pasquier
rsc-tr.resus@nhs.net
mailto:rsc-tr.resus@nhs.net
Book online
26
Apr
2023
-
27
Apr
2023
£600.00
Pricing notes:
Full price: £600.00
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Location:
Derriford HospitalDerriford Road
PLYMOUTH
PL6 8DH
United Kingdom
plh-tr.lifesupporttraining@nhs.net
01752431965
Instructions:
Sarah Hitchcock, plh-tr.lifesupporttraining@nhs.net, 01752431965 View in Google MapsPricing notes:
Full price: £600.00
Fully Booked
Contact details:
Please contact the coordinator:
Sarah Hitchcock
plh-tr.lifesupporttraining@nhs.net
mailto:plh-tr.lifesupporttraining@nhs.net
Book online
04
May
2023
-
05
May
2023
£600
Pricing notes:
Full price: £600
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
Conquest Hospital
Location:
Conquest HospitalThe Ridge
ST. LEONARDS-ON-SEA
TN37 7RD
United Kingdom
debbie.jones34@nhs.net
Instructions:
Debbie Jones, debbie.jones34@nhs.net View in Google MapsPricing notes:
Full price: £600
Fully Booked
Contact details:
Please contact the coordinator:
Debbie Jones
debbie.jones34@nhs.net
mailto:debbie.jones34@nhs.net
Book online
Royal College Of Surgeons Courses
25
Apr
2023
-
26
Apr
2023
£749.00
Pricing notes:
Full price: £749.00
RCS England Members/Fellows: £674.10
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
LONDON, United Kingdom
Location:
RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom
education@rcseng.ac.uk
020 7869 6300 View in Google Maps
Book online
Further information and queries
You can get in touch with us by emailing education@rcseng.ac.uk
We will endeavour to reply to you as soon as possible. Usually this is within a couple of days. Please note we do not work weekends.
Phone us
Call 020 7869 6300 to talk with a member of our team.
We are available to answer calls during our working hours of 8.30am–5:00pm, Monday–Friday and there is a voicemail outside this time.