SCA Focus on Safety Netting

- Session Outline

Learning Objectives

By the end of this sessions, trainees should be able to:

  1. Recognise common SCA pitfalls in safety-netting.

  2. Provide specific, patient-centred safety-netting advice.

  3. Demonstrate checking understanding & linking safety-netting to clinical reasoning

  4. Apply safety-netting consistently in their consultations

(Session outline below - click as you go for resources or can all be found bundle on our resources page)

Session Structure

(A 20-30minute “SCA Focus” session. It can easily evolve into a longer session on communication skills, both theoretical & practical)

  1. Introduction

    Explain why safety-netting is marked in the SCA:

    • Supports safe patient care

    • Demonstrates clinical reasoning

    • Shows patient-centred communication

    Introduce the common pitfalls:

    * Vague instructions (“come back if worse”)

    * Over-general instructions (“call 999/111 for anything”)

    * Not tailored to patient context

    * Not checking understanding

2. Demonstration / Worked Examples

Poor Safety-Netting Examples/Habits:

  • This PowerPoint can be used as is, or the slides can be printed as handouts

  • Each slide has a different safety - net.

  • In small groups (or as large group) trainees should discuss the weakness of each safety-net.

  • (brief notes are provided)

Good Safety-Netting Example:

  • Trainee says: “If you develop a high fever, shortness of breath, or chest pain, call 999 immediately. If your cough persists more than 3 weeks or you notice blood in sputum, book a GP review. Can you repeat that back to me so I know you understand?”

  • Discuss: What makes this specific, patient-centred, actionable, and checkable?

  • Scenarios for trainees to practice with/discuss are found on this PowerPoint - again use as is or print out as works for your learners

3. Interactive Practice

Activity:

  • Scenarios for trainees to practice with/discuss are found on this PowerPoint - again use as is or print out as works for your learners

  • Ask trainees to discuss, write or role-play safety-netting explanations/statements

  • Use peer and educator feedback to identify:

    • Clarity

    • Relevance to patient context

    • Check for understanding

    • Link to clinical reasoning

4. Key Teaching Points / Tips for Educators

  • Safety-netting should be tailored to the patient’s age, comorbidities, and presentation.

  • Always check patient understanding (teach-back method).

  • Safety-netting is part of your clinical reasoning, not just a script.

  • Highlight marks mapping:

    • Data Gathering: uncovering ICE, red flags

    • Relationship Building: showing care and clarity

    • Clinical Management: ensuring safe, actionable plan

5. Take-Home Summary

GP Fluency: Safety-Netting Top Tips for SCA

  1. Be specific: clear red flags and action points

  2. Be patient-centred: tailored to context

  3. Check understanding: ask the patient to repeat key points

  4. Link to clinical reasoning: integrate into your plan and explanation

(Handout if required)