S.I.G.N.A.L

Course Overview

Patients can deteriorate quickly in hospital, and the first person to notice a change is often not a nurse or doctor. Cleaners, porters, security staff, receptionists, and other support staff spend time around patients every day and may be the first to see that something is wrong.

SIGNAL training helps hospital staff recognise early warning signs of patient deterioration and teaches them how to safely and confidently alert clinical staff.

This course does not teach medical treatment. Instead, it focuses on awareness, communication, and speaking up when something doesn’t look right.

Participants learn a simple system based on three steps: LOOK – LISTEN – FEEL

Then ask three simple safety questions:

1. Is the breathing normal?
2. Is the patient awake and acting normally?
3. Does the patient look the right colour?

If the answer to any question is NO, the correct action is simple: Call for help.

Through short lessons and video scenarios, participants practise recognising warning signs and using clear language to escalate concerns.

The goal is simple: See something. Say something. Save a life.

By the end of this course participants will be able to:

1. Understand that everyone in the hospital plays a role in patient safety
2. Recognise common warning signs that a patient may be getting worse
3. Use the LOOK – LISTEN – FEEL approach to assess a patient
4. Apply the 3 Safety Questions to quickly decide if help is needed
5. Speak up confidently using a clear escalation script
6. Understand how to call for help in the hospital system

This course is designed for non-clinical hospital staff, including:

1. Cleaning staff
2. Porters
3. Security personnel
4. Reception staff
5. Administrative staff
6. Patient support workers
7. Maintenance staff
8. Volunteers

No medical training is required.

The course includes:

1. Short teaching sections
2. Visual examples of warning signs
3. Interactive video scenarios
4. Practice using the 3 safety questions
5. Guided escalation language

The focus is confidence and awareness, not medical testing.

45 – 60 minutes

There is no pass or fail exam.

Participants complete short scenario-based questions to demonstrate understanding and confidence in recognising warning signs and speaking up.

A Certificate of Completion is issued after course participation.

You do not need medical training to notice when something is wrong.

If you are worried about a patient:

Stay with the patient.

Call for help.

Speak up.

Your voice matters.

You are part of the safety team.