2-Day Intensive Minor Illness Course

Day 1 – Foundations & Core Systems

Morning

•⁠ ⁠Introductions & Expectations
•⁠ ⁠Consultation Skills in Minor Illness:

Holistic assessment, history taking (ICE & PSHx), rapport-building
Safeguarding principles (adults & children, Prevent, domestic abuse, modern slavery, substance misuse)

Children & Acute Illness

•⁠ ⁠Assessing the feverish child (<5 years): red flags, NICE guidance, “Spotting the Sick Child”
•⁠ ⁠Kawasaki disease recognition and escalation
•⁠ ⁠Paediatric sepsis recognition and urgent response

ENT & Eyes

•⁠ ⁠Acute otitis media & externa diagnosis, red flags, management
•⁠ ⁠Rhinosinusitis & sore throat Centor/FeverPain scoring, antibiotic stewardship
•⁠ ⁠Eye conditions: conjunctivitis, peri-orbital cellulitis, dry eyes, blepharitis, red flags for urgent referral

Afternoon
Respiratory System

•⁠ ⁠URTI & LRTI: diagnosis, self-care vs escalation
•⁠ ⁠Croup, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, bronchitis key presentations & management
•⁠ ⁠Asthma and COPD exacerbations: frontline recognition & safe management

Plenary & Reflective Conversations

Day 2 – System-Specific Minor Illnesses

Morning
Cardiovascular & MSK

•⁠ ⁠Chest pain in primary/urgent care: distinguishing non-cardiac vs cardiac causes
•⁠ ⁠Palpitations, hypertension, cardiovascular red flags
•⁠ ⁠Headache assessment – migraine, tension headache, red flags for escalation
•⁠ ⁠MSK presentations: back pain, joint pain, sciatica, red flags for cauda equina

Gastroenterology

•⁠ ⁠Dyspepsia, reflux, and indigestion
•⁠ ⁠Constipation and acute diarrhoea management
•⁠ ⁠Diverticular disease & red flags for escalation

Afternoon
Dermatology & Skin

•⁠ ⁠Spot diagnoses: chickenpox, shingles, impetigo, warts, eczema, psoriasis, acne
•⁠ ⁠Skin cancers: BCC, SCC, melanoma – recognition & 2WW referrals

Infections & Sexual Health

•⁠ ⁠UTI and pyelonephritis: diagnosis & management
•⁠ ⁠Vaginal discharge, thrush, BV, trichomoniasis
•⁠ ⁠STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea – testing, treatment, and referral to sexual health clinics

Course Wrap-Up & Reflection

•⁠ ⁠Plenary session
•⁠ ⁠Q\&A, consolidation of learning, and reflective discussion

Why This Course Matters

This training will give you the confidence to manage patients independently within your scope of practice, while ensuring safety through vigilant recognition of red flags and clear escalation pathways.

Designed specifically for non-medical clinicians (pharmacists, nurses, ANPs, paramedics), it provides structured knowledge, practical tips, and consultation frameworks that are directly applicable to daily clinical practice.

Dr Zakariya Goga, MBChB, MRCGP is a respected GP Partner and GP Trainer based in Sale, Cheshire. With a strong educational background and frontline experience, he brings authority and clarity to teaching consultation skills and minor illness management.

•⁠ ⁠Clinical & Educational Leadership
As a GP Partner, Dr Goga provides holistic, evidence-based care across a diverse population. As a recognised GP Trainer, he mentors GP trainees and advanced practitioners, ensuring they develop safe, effective, and patient-centred clinical practice.

Consultation Skills Expertise
Dr Goga is particularly known for his expertise in consultation skills teaching clinicians how to build rapport, listen actively, explore patient ideas/concerns/expectations (ICE), and navigate complex or sensitive conversations. His teaching empowers learners to confidently manage uncertainty while maintaining patient trust.

Type 2 Diabetes Reversal
He has contributed to innovative approaches in Type 2 diabetes remission and reversal, helping patients achieve significant improvements in long-term health outcomes.

•⁠ ⁠Community Engagement
Alongside his clinical work, Dr Goga volunteers his time to support education within the BAME community, promoting health awareness and widening access to medical careers for underrepresented groups.

Focus on Minor Illness Training
His teaching style blends practical consultation strategies with clinical knowledge, giving pharmacists, nurses, ANPs, and paramedics the tools to assess safely, spot red flags early, and manage patients confidently within their scope of practice.