Irish doctors follow UEFA FDEP lead

The UEFA Football Doctor Education Programme (FDEP), in which vital football medical knowledge is being exchanged among Europe's football associations, is proving to be inspirational.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has staged its latest annual emergency care course for elite-level doctors and physiotherapists, and the course agenda covered key aspects that also feature in UEFA's FDEP programme.

The FAI course programme focused on the clinical skills required in the initial treatment of medical and trauma-related situations – basic life-support, spinal injury management, head injuries and fractures. As with the UEFA FDEP seminars, the Irish association is 'cascading' medical knowledge, ensuring that all football doctors gain invaluable expertise and know-how.

"The course's aims are to ensure that as wide a range as possible of elite doctors have the up-to-date skills and knowledge necessary to save lives in emergency situations," said FAI medical director Alan Byrne.

"As a graduate of the UEFA Football Doctor Education Programme, I am fully aware of the importance of good training in emergency care. We work hard to ensure that [the course] operates as a cascaded course in accordance with the FDEP curriculum.

"It's crucial for us that doctors in Ireland, and particularly in Irish football, have the high level of knowledge and expertise that the FAI and UEFA expect for the teams and players in their competitions. This course certainly goes towards achieving those aims, and furthering UEFA's ambitions to create a network of elite European football doctors."