Audit of Doctors' Knowledge of Major Incident Policies

Abstract

The aim of this study was to audit doctors' knowledge of their hospital's major incident policy. Pre- and post-intervention interviews were conducted with doctors selected at random in a central London teaching hospital on where to report to in a major incident. Doctors working in hospitals with accident and emergency departments within the M25 motorway were asked if they had read or received training on their hospital's major incident policy. Pre-intervention, 4.4% of doctors knew where to report to in a major incident. A 1-sided information sheet on the major incident policy was distributed to doctors and posted in areas frequented by doctors. Following this intervention, 78% of doctors knew where to report to in a major incident. Doctors in only 2 out of 38 hospitals with accident and emergency departments within the M25 corridor had read or received training on their major incident policy. More needs to be done by hospitals to ensure that doctors have a better awareness of their hospital major incident policy.