Botulinum Toxin Injections Training Course

Botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) blocks the release of a neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine from nerve cells. Acetylcholine normally transmits nerve impulses to muscle cells, causing them to contract. Without acetylcholine, the affected nerve is unable to send a signal to the muscle it supplies, resulting in a weakened or paralysed muscle. The effect of Botox injections is restricted to the area being treated.

This Level 7, 15 credit injection therapy module has been specifically designed to enable appropriate health professionals to undertake injection therapy using botulinum toxin for the management of patients/clients with limb spasticity or dystonia regardless of the form of botulinum toxin used in their trust.

The students will develop skills through critical analysis and evaluation, which will enhance practice, and enable them to monitor and assess more effectively overall Botulinum Toxin response, with resultant benefit to patient/client care. They will also explore the professional and legal implications of the developing role of health care professionals in supplying medicines under protocol.

This is one of several medicine professional development courses offered at City St George's Tooting campus.

Who is it for?

This credit bearing module is particularly suited to: physiotherapists, consultant stroke physicians, rehabilitation medicine and neurology trainees, and nurses.

Timetable

Provisional teaching dates

Term 1

• 27/11/26
• 28/11/26
• 29/11/26
• 06/02/27
• 07/02/27
• 07/02/27

Term 2

• 23/04/27
• 24/04/27
• 25/04/27
• 14/05/27
• 15/05/27
• 16/05/27

This module runs twice a year. Please register your interest with pec@sgul.ac.uk for any information on future cohorts.

Benefits

This course will allow for practitioners to advance their practice as independent injectors developing roles such as ACPs and enable autonomous practice.

Medical practitioners will develop greater skills around injection therapy including localisation techniques, and case study analysis to enable advanced clinical reasoning skills.

The greater knowledge and skills will enable students to become competent, safe and effective independent in injection therapy. Learners will be supported in developing their skills and techniques in clinical reasoning, injection administration and after care to provide a comprehensive management approach.

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:

• discuss critically the clinical significance and rationale behind Botulinum Toxin injection therapy and the mechanisms of the drug actions, and the possible interaction of the Botulinum Toxin with other body systems to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively according to guidelines for injection
• apply effective and comprehensive examination and assessment of patients across the life span, and evaluate their suitability for Botulinum Toxin and maintain an appropriate and comprehensive recording system
• critically evaluate and clinically reason the suitability of patients with neurological dysfunction for Botulinum Toxin injection therapy
• apply and critically appraise the evidence underpinning the Botulinum Toxin injection therapy and the clinical significance of potentially serious Botulinum Toxin interactions, taking account of the evidence-based practice and national/local guidelines
• critically analyse the contribution of different rehabilitation strategies post Botulinum Toxin injection and ensure critical monitoring of responses to Botulinum Toxin for different conditions, and apply knowledge of Botulinum Toxin actions and interactions in order to modify treatment or refer the patient, as appropriate
• evaluate and challenge practice within a framework of professional, legal accountability and ethical issues underpinning injection therapy for Botulinum Toxin within the health professions.

Teaching

Theory Sessions

• Pharmacology of Botulinum Toxin and the application of the relevant concepts to patients
• Storage, dilution and administration of Botulinum Toxin.
• Anatomy relevant to common treatments
• Appropriate indications for Botulinum Toxin and how this integrates with the patients’ rehabilitation programme
• Choice of the most effective dose and injection location using relevant protocols
• Common and rare side effects
• Management of side effects when they do occur
• Management and follow-up of patients post injection
• Identification and utilisation of the appropriate outcome measures and goal setting.

Practical Sessions

• Supervised consultation, assessment and treatment of demo models developing safe and effective technique with Botulinum Toxin
• Predicting the outcome of treatments with Botulinum Toxin
  Injection technique and muscle localisation that reduces side effects and increases predictability of results using Botulinum Toxin
• Handling and preparing the injections, without damaging the delicate Botulinum Toxin.

Assessment

• OSCE Examination (40%)
• Portfolio – consisting of clinical cases and essay (60%).

Certification

This is a credit bearing standalone module. After successful completion of the assessment, students will receive a transcript for 15 credits at Level 7.

Apply for this course by completing this online form.

If applying for this module, you MUST state the Module Title and Course Code in the personal statement tab. Without this we will be unaware of what module you are applying for and will delay your application decision.

Students should have suitable background knowledge to successfully complete this course.

Before taking this course, students should:

• be registered with the appropriate professional body
• have at least two years of experience in neurosciences
• hold a current position that will allow completion of supervised injections in a clinical setting
• hold an undergraduate degree or equivalent.

If you have any questions, you can contact us at pec@sgul.ac.uk

English requirements

Candidates must meet City St George’s requirements for English language proficiency.