Tracheostomy Safety Course

Introduction

Tracheostomy and laryngectomy care requires a high level of clinical competence across diverse healthcare settings. Although emergencies involving these patients are relatively uncommon, they can cause serious harm or death. Therefore, healthcare professionals must prepare thoroughly to respond quickly and effectively to improve patient outcomes.

Caring for patients who breathe through their neck, whether in routine situations or during emergencies, demands both strong foundational knowledge and confident decision-making. In addition, nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals each play a critical role in safe airway management. As a result, teams must prioritise ongoing education to maintain high standards of care.

The Tracheostomy Safety programme addresses this need directly. It delivers six focused online sessions that build practical knowledge and clinical confidence. Moreover, the course helps professionals manage tracheostomy and laryngectomy patients safely, prevent critical incidents, and support patient-centred care around eating, drinking, and communication.

Developed by

The Tracheostomy Safety course was developed by the National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) in partnership with the Royal College of Anaesthetists and NHS England’s eLearning for Healthcare.

Who is This Tracheostomy Safety Course for?

• General and specialist nurses who want to build confidence in managing tracheostomy and laryngectomy patients in both routine and emergency situations.
• Medical doctors and junior clinicians who are looking to strengthen their understanding of tracheostomy critical incident management.
• Allied health professionals who seek to expand their knowledge of care for neck-breathing patients across hospital and community settings.
• Paediatric and neonatal healthcare staff who want focused guidance on managing tracheostomy emergencies in younger patient populations.
• Community-based healthcare workers who are looking to apply hospital-level tracheostomy safety standards to patients in non-acute settings.
• Clinical educators and trainers who seek a structured resource to integrate into local teaching and professional development programmes.

Features

• Six structured sessions covering adult, paediatric, and neonatal tracheostomy and laryngectomy care.
• Aligned to current clinical guidelines and evidence on managing critical incidents involving neck-breathing patients.
• Addresses emergency response as well as preventative care, including patient support around eating, drinking, and communication.
• Applicable across hospital and community settings, making it relevant to a broad range of healthcare professionals.
• Developed by the National Tracheostomy Safety Project, ensuring content reflects real-world clinical standards.

For institutional purchase or bulk licenses of our online medical courses, please contact us