Immediate Life Support Training in the UK: Complete ILS Course Guide

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Managing a cardiac arrest in the first critical minutes—before the resuscitation team arrives—separates positive patient outcomes from preventable tragedies. Immediate Life Support (ILS) training equips healthcare professionals with the systematic assessment skills, resuscitation techniques, and team coordination needed to respond effectively when every second counts.

This guide covers what ILS training involves, who requires certification, how to choose between course formats, and what you'll actually learn during the practical scenarios that form the core of this one-day qualification.

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What is immediate life support training

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Immediate Life Support (ILS) training is a one-day course developed by Resuscitation Council UK for healthcare professionals who manage patients in cardiac arrest before a resuscitation team arrives. The course teaches you to recognize deteriorating patients, perform quality CPR, use defibrillators, and lead emergency response teams. Think of it as the middle ground between basic life support—which covers foundational CPR—and advanced life support, which involves complex interventions like intubation and emergency medications.

The training centers on practical, hands-on scenarios rather than theory alone. You'll practice on manikins, use actual resuscitation equipment, and work through realistic emergencies you'd encounter on a hospital ward or in a clinic. The course combines these practical skills with a systematic patient assessment method called the ABCDE approach.

Most ILS courses now come in two formats: a traditional full-day face-to-face course, or e-ILS which splits the content into half-day e-learning followed by a half-day practical workshop. Both lead to the same Resuscitation Council UK provider certificate, which stays valid for twelve months. The certification is recognized internationally by the European Resuscitation Council and Australian Resuscitation Council, making it valuable across different healthcare settings.

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Who needs ILS training in the UK

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ILS training is designed for healthcare professionals who might be first responders to medical emergencies in hospital or clinical settings. This typically includes registered dentists, nurses, junior doctors, midwives, operating department practitioners, and paramedics working in acute care environments. Many NHS trusts and private healthcare facilities require staff to hold current ILS certification as part of mandatory training.

The General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and Care Quality Commission (CQC) recognize ILS as meeting continuing professional development standards for resuscitation training. Healthcare assistants and support workers with clinical responsibilities may also take ILS training, though some organizations prefer these staff members complete basic life support first. Dental professionals working in practices that provide sedation often choose ILS to meet enhanced resuscitation training obligations.

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Course content and learning outcomes

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The ILS curriculum focuses on practical scenarios that mirror real clinical emergencies in healthcare settings. You'll spend most of your time practicing on manikins and using actual resuscitation equipment, with instructors—often experienced paramedics or emergency department nurses—providing immediate feedback on your technique.

The course emphasizes three core competencies: quality chest compressions, effective ventilation, and safe defibrillation. Beyond the physical skills, you'll develop confidence in making rapid clinical decisions under pressure, communicating clearly with team members during emergencies, and recognizing when to call for additional support.

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Airway and breathing assessment

You'll learn systematic approaches to assess and manage airway obstruction, starting with basic maneuvers like head tilt-chin lift and jaw thrust. The course covers airway adjuncts—oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airways—teaching you when each device works best and how to insert them safely. These are simple plastic tubes that help keep a patient's airway open when they can't maintain it themselves.

Breathing assessment involves recognizing respiratory distress, measuring respiratory rate and oxygen saturation, and delivering supplemental oxygen effectively. You'll practice bag-valve-mask ventilation, which requires coordination and proper technique to deliver adequate breaths without causing gastric inflation. Getting this right takes practice—squeeze the bag too hard or too fast, and you'll fill the patient's stomach with air instead of their lungs.

Use of automated external defibrillators

While basic life support covers AED use, ILS training advances your skills to include manual defibrillators commonly found on hospital wards. You'll learn to interpret basic ECG rhythms, distinguish shockable from non-shockable rhythms, and deliver safe, effective defibrillation. The difference matters because manual defibrillators give you more control and faster rhythm analysis than automated devices.

The course emphasizes minimizing interruptions to chest compressions when analyzing rhythms and delivering shocks. You'll practice the complete sequence of CPR cycles integrated with defibrillation, understanding how rhythm checks and drug administration fit into the resuscitation algorithm. Every second of interrupted compressions reduces a patient's chance of survival, so the training drills this timing until it becomes second nature.

Recognition of the deteriorating patient

Early recognition prevents many cardiac arrests, making this section particularly valuable for ward-based healthcare professionals. You'll learn to use track-and-trigger systems like the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) to identify patients whose condition is declining. These scoring systems assign points based on vital signs—heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, consciousness level—so you can spot problems before they become crises.

The ABCDE approach provides a systematic framework for patient assessment that works in any emergency situation. You'll practice this structured method repeatedly during scenarios, developing the habit of thorough, prioritized assessment even under pressure. First you check the airway, then breathing, then circulation—the order reflects what will kill a patient fastest if left untreated.

Team leadership and communication

Effective resuscitation depends on coordinated team effort rather than individual heroics. The course teaches you how to assume team leadership during emergencies, delegate tasks clearly, and maintain situational awareness while managing multiple competing demands. You'll learn when to step up and lead, and equally important, when to step back and let someone more experienced take charge.

You'll practice closed-loop communication techniques that reduce errors during high-stress situations. This means the team leader gives a clear instruction, the team member repeats it back, then confirms when they've completed it. Role-playing exercises help you develop the confidence to speak up if you notice problems and ask for help when you're uncertain.

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ILS training formats: classroom, blended, and onsite

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Each ILS delivery method covers identical content and leads to the same certification, though the time commitment and learning experience differ. Understanding these options helps you select training that fits your circumstances while maximizing the learning value.

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Classroom public courses

Traditional ILS courses run as full-day sessions at established training centers, typically starting around 9am and finishing by 5pm. You'll join other healthcare professionals from various organizations, which provides networking opportunities and exposure to different clinical perspectives. However, you'll factor in travel time and the course fee typically ranges from £150-£250 per person depending on the provider and location.

Blended e-learning plus workshop

The e-ILS format splits theoretical content into self-paced online modules you complete before attending a half-day practical workshop. You'll typically spend 3-4 hours working through interactive e-learning covering resuscitation theory, algorithms, and equipment. The face-to-face session then focuses entirely on practical scenarios and skills practice, making efficient use of instructor time and venue resources.

Onsite group training at your workplace

Bringing ILS training to your facility makes sense when you're training multiple staff members, particularly if they work together regularly. An instructor travels to your location with all necessary equipment, delivering the course in your meeting room or training space. Onsite training offers advantages beyond cost savings—instructors can incorporate your specific equipment, policies, and clinical areas into scenarios.

Your team practices together using the actual defibrillator and emergency trolley they'll use in real emergencies, building familiarity and confidence. At Kasorb, we deliver onsite ILS training with a flat rate of £395 for up to six participants, which works out to less than £66 per person without any travel expenses or time lost to commuting.

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How long the immediate life support course takes and certificate validity

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The standard face-to-face ILS course runs for approximately seven hours including breaks, typically delivered as a single day from 9am to 5pm. The e-ILS format requires 3-4 hours of e-learning completed at your own pace, followed by a half-day practical workshop lasting approximately 3.5 hours. Both formats cover the same material—the difference is when you learn the theory portion.

Your ILS provider certificate remains valid for twelve months from the date of issue. This annual recertification requirement reflects how quickly resuscitation guidelines evolve and how perishable practical skills become without regular practice. Most healthcare organizations track staff certification expiry dates and prompt renewal 2-3 months before certificates lapse.

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ILS course cost and group booking options

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Individual ILS course fees typically range from £150 to £250 depending on the training provider, location, and format. London-based courses often sit at the higher end of this range, while regional providers may offer more competitive pricing. Group booking discounts vary significantly between providers—some offer tiered pricing where the per-person cost decreases with larger groups, while others maintain fixed per-person rates regardless of numbers.

Onsite group training delivers the most significant savings when training teams of four or more staff members. Kasorb's flat rate of £395 covers up to six participants at your location, eliminating individual course fees, travel costs, and the productivity loss of staff traveling to external venues.

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How to book ILS training with Kasorb

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Booking your team's ILS training takes just minutes through our streamlined system designed for busy healthcare organizations. We've eliminated the back-and-forth emails and complicated approval processes that often delay essential training.

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1. Check available dates or request onsite quote

Visit booking.kasorb.com/checkout/create/  complete the quick quote form specifying your preferred dates, number of delegates, and location—you'll receive a confirmed price and availability within hours.

2. Confirm delegate details and requirements

Once you've selected your date, enter participant names and contact details through our secure booking portal. You can also note any specific requirements like dietary needs for lunch, accessibility considerations, or requests to incorporate your organization's specific equipment into training scenarios.

3. Receive instant booking confirmation and pre-course pack

Your confirmation email arrives immediately with everything your delegates require: course date and time, venue details or instructor arrival information for onsite training, and access to pre-course materials. For e-ILS bookings, delegates receive login credentials for the e-learning platform straight away so they can begin the online modules at their convenience.

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Preparing for your ILS course: practical tips

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Arriving prepared helps you gain maximum value from your ILS training day. While the course teaches you everything you need to know, some advance preparation enhances your learning experience and confidence.

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Review latest Resus Council algorithms

Familiarizing yourself with current resuscitation algorithms before the course helps you understand the rationale behind each step during practical scenarios. The Resuscitation Council UK website provides free access to all current guidelines, though you don't need to memorize them—the course reinforces the algorithms through repeated practice.

Complete any pre-course e-learning

If you've booked e-ILS training, finishing the online modules at least 2-3 days before your practical workshop gives you time to absorb the content. Rushing through e-learning the night before means you'll spend the workshop catching up rather than building on that foundation.

Arrange appropriate work attire and ID

Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to kneel on the floor for extended periods during CPR practice—many participants find scrubs or athletic wear ideal. Bring your professional ID badge as course centers verify your identity and professional registration before issuing certificates.

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Why choose Kasorb for onsite ILS training

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Kasorb brings over a decade of experience delivering practical, workplace-relevant compliance training to more than 300,000 healthcare professionals across the UK. Our ILS instructors include active paramedics, emergency department nurses, and intensive care specialists who bring current frontline experience into every training session. We've designed our onsite service for healthcare organizations that value training efficiency without compromising quality.

Unlike training centers that rush through scenarios to keep to rigid schedules, our instructors adapt pace and focus to your team's learning requirements. We incorporate your actual emergency equipment into scenarios so your staff practice with the defibrillator and airway devices they'll use in real situations, building genuine competence rather than generic familiarity.

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FAQs about immediate life support training

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Does ILS training include infant resuscitation?

ILS courses focus exclusively on adult life support techniques and don't cover pediatric or infant resuscitation. Healthcare professionals working with children require separate Pediatric Immediate Life Support (PILS) or European Pediatric Life Support (EPLS) training that addresses the specific physiological differences and techniques required for younger patients.

Can non-clinicians attend an immediate life support course?

ILS training assumes participants have clinical knowledge and healthcare experience, making it inappropriate for non-clinical staff. Receptionists, administrators, and facilities staff benefit more from basic life support or first aid courses instead, which provide appropriate emergency response skills without requiring clinical background knowledge.

What is the typical pass mark for the ILS assessment?

ILS assessment focuses on demonstrating practical competencies during observed scenarios rather than achieving a numerical test score. You'll show safe, effective performance across key skills including quality CPR, appropriate defibrillation, systematic patient assessment, and clear team communication—instructors use a competency checklist rather than percentage-based marking.

Can I combine ILS with other mandatory courses on the same day?

Many organizations book ILS alongside other compliance training like basic life support, manual handling, or safeguarding to maximize efficiency. However, ILS requires significant physical exertion and mental focus, so most training providers recommend scheduling it separately or as the only course that day to prevent fatigue affecting your performance and learning.

How soon will I receive my digital certificate?

Resuscitation Council UK certificates typically arrive via email within 1-2 working days of successfully completing your ILS course, once your training center has processed assessment results and uploaded them to the RCUK system. Physical certificates, if requested, usually arrive by post within 7-10 working days, though you can use your digital certificate immediately for employment verification or compliance records.

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