If you are booking an ILS course in Manchester, you have two options at PLAB Guide Training Centre in Levenshulme: the full-day, face-to-face Immediate Life Support (ILS) course, or the blended eILS course, which pairs online learning with a shorter practical session. Both are Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) courses, and both lead to the RCUK ILS Provider certificate.

The difference is how you spend your time. This guide sets out what each route involves so you can choose the one that suits your work pattern.

ILS and eILS at a glance

Prices are those shown on our course pages when this post was written. The booking page always shows the current fee.

What both courses cover

The content and the standard are the same. On either route you learn to:

• recognise and respond to a deteriorating adult patient
• manage the airway and give ventilation
• deliver high-quality CPR and use a defibrillator safely
• identify cardiac arrest rhythms and follow the adult advanced life support algorithm
• look for and treat reversible causes
• work as part of a resuscitation team, communicate clearly and hand over

Assessment is continuous. Your instructors watch you in skills stations and simulated cardiac arrest scenarios throughout the practical session.

Choose the full-day ILS course if

• you learn best with an instructor in the room from the start
• you would rather not complete theory online in your own time
• you want more hands-on practice time on the day
• you can take a full day away from work

See the full-day ILS course in Manchester for the timetable, entry requirements and dates.

Choose blended eILS if

• you are comfortable working through RCUK e-learning before the course
• a half-day practical fits your rota better than a full day
• you want the lower fee

For eILS you need an RCUK account and your professional body details when you book. You receive the printed ILS manual, which you can collect or have posted. Final-year students may be eligible. The e-learning takes about two to four hours of focused work. Complete it before your practical session.

See the blended eILS course in Manchester for full details.

Which one do employers accept?

Both routes award the same RCUK ILS Provider certificate. If your employer or training programme asks for "ILS", either course meets that requirement. The certificate is valid for one year, whichever route you take.

Training as a team?

We run ILS for groups at our Levenshulme centre and on site for NHS trusts, GP practices and other employers across Greater Manchester. Email training@plabguide.co.uk or call 0161 564 6162.

Upcoming ILS course dates in Manchester

Looking after children as well as adults? See the Paediatric Immediate Life Support (PILS) course.