Simulation
This page was last updated: November 30th, 2021
Our simulation training allows people to practise real life scenarios within the safety of a simulated environment, with a strong emphasis on multi-professional, multi-disciplinary training and self-evaluation.
We deliver approximately 1,500 hours of training to healthcare professionals from a variety of departments. Feedback is strong with an overwhelming proportion wanting more!
Simulation helps to not only improve clinical knowledge but to also develop non-technical skills and teach the importance of human factors in the healthcare profession. When delivered at the point-of-care it also identifies improvements that can be made in the working environment.
What is Simulation Training?
Staff train and learn alongside others, and by using specific debriefing techniques, they also evaluate and analyse their own practice.
The great thing about simulation is its adaptability to a variety of needs. It can be tailored to a wide variety of clinical situations and varying complexities: from learning how to provide an adequate jaw thrust on a patient, right through to performing a complex fibre optic intubation as part of a multi-disciplinary team managing a trauma patient in the Emergency Department.
What happens during a simulation session?
A typical simulated session will involve an introduction to the simulator, it capabilities and limitations. Then participants will take part in a specifically written scenario, often based on real cases. As far as possible, simulated sessions are performed in real time, with participants acting as if they were treating or managing a real patient.
Each session is followed by the debrief, conducted by a trained ‘debriefer’. These are non-judgemental and place heavy emphasis on facilitating group discussion and personal reflection.
Who is it aimed at?
Simulation is for both clinical and non-clinical staff of all grades and professions – whether that is large single-profession groups in the simulation suite for training days or the smaller multi-professional training that occurs in the clinical areas.
So far, we have trained nurses, healthcare assistants, midwives, doctors, physiotherapists, occupational health practitioners, researchers, porters, radiologists and students.
The multi-professional, multi-disciplinary nature of our sessions give staff the opportunity to work together towards the common goal of providing high quality, safe care for all patients.
Human Factors
‘Human factors’ refers to environmental, organisational and job factors, and human and individual characteristics which influence behaviour at work in a way which can affect health and safety.’
WHO & Health & Safety Directive
Human factors is an encompassing term that examines the relationship between humans and the systems with which they interact. In healthcare this may be seen as the interaction between healthcare professionals, their environment and the facilities they have to use. A failure to apply human factors principles is often the key aspect in adverse events within healthcare. Human factors that are evident in providing medical care include.
- Mental workload
- Distractions
- The physical environment
- Physical demands
- Device/product design
- Teamwork
- Process design
Tens of thousands of people are estimated to die each year in the healthcare system from human error, and as medicines and equipment become safer, the proportion of harm caused by human error may increase.
Simulation is fantastic at helping to identify and strengthen the weakness in human factors. By observing sessions run in real time (especially in clinical areas), the facilitator will often see the interactions between professionals and their environments when the participants are completely oblivious to them. The debriefing process allows candidates to appreciate the influence of human factors on the performance and then share solutions with each other.
Contact the Simulation Team using the details in the ‘Simulation Team and Contacts’ section at the bottom of the page to find out more.
Our Facilities and Equipment
We use high fidelity Laerdal simulators that simulate real life physiological actions. The interactive simulators have central and peripheral pulses, variable respiratory rates and volumes, reactive pupils, heart sounds and abdominal signs. The manikin also has a real time monitor that can display up-to-date cardiac traces, pulses, saturations, blood pressure, arterial wave forms and capnography.
Clinical skills and procedures, such as bag-mask ventilation, intubation, defibrillation, chest tube placement and cricothyrotomy, can be performed on the simulators.
In addition to the clinical equipment, we have the facility to remotely watch sessions via mobile cameras that stream events elsewhere in the hospital. Sessions may be recorded and played back if there is felt to be a learning need.
Our Simulators
SimMan 3G
SimMan is a completely wireless Laerdal simulator. It allows easy transport around the hospital to deliver training in a variety of areas. Similarly, its portability makes it excellent for the training required in transferring patients from one clinical area to another.
SimMom
SimMom is a simulator that allows obstetric scenarios to run close to real life. She is a child bearing simulator with the ability to simulate delivery, haemorrhage and uterine atony. She also has breath sounds, hearts sounds, pulses, CTG graphs and an interactive airway that can be intubated. She provides a superb platform for multidisciplinary obstetric training.
Sim Junior
Sim Junior is a 6-year-old simulator with breath sounds, heart sounds, pulses and physiology that can be changed in real time. He allows a broad range of skills and drills to be facilitated during paediatric simulations.
Sim Baby
Sim Baby is an advanced 6-month old simulator that can facilitate either individual or team training surrounding infant care. With interactive, changeable, physiological signs and a realistic cry.
Baby Hal
The newest and smallest of our family, Hal is a 40-week wireless newborn with breathing, pulses, color and vital signs that are responsive to hypoxic events and interventions. It also includes trending, crying, convulsions, oral and nasal intubation, airway sounds and an extra tablet PC for control, great for neonatal transfers.
Simulation Courses
Point of Care Simulation
- Emergency Department
- Gynaecology
- Medicine
- Neonatal
- Obstetrics
- Paediatrics
- Recovery
- Surgery
- Theatres
- West Cornwall Hospital
Simulation at the Postgraduate Centre
The following courses are supported by Simulation training
- MEPA- Management of Emergency Paediatric Anaesthesia
- COAAST- (Cornwall Aeromedical & Ambulance Simulation Training)
- Hands on Introduction to Anaesthesia
- ACCS Regional Study Days
- HEAD346/Assessment Management & Escalation of the Acutely Ill Adult
- Nursing Preceptee course
We can also help in the design of training programmes and scenarios, and would be pleased to discuss how we can meet the training needs of your specialty or department.
Find out more
If you would like to discuss training for your specialty or department please contact the Simulation Team on the details in the toggle below.
Simulation Team and Contacts
For courses & general enquiries:
Simulation Administrator
Sarah Lampshire
Sarah.lampshire@nhs.net
Phone
01872 252605
For new & existing training programmes:
Simulation Specialist
Steve Harris
Steve.harris9@nhs.net
Simulation Clinical Fellow
Dr Ben Parish
b.parish@nhs.net
Clinical Fellows
Dr Catherine Marsh
Catherine.Marsh@nhs.net
Dr Emma Garry
emma.garry@nhs.net
Dr Natasha Askaroff
n.askaroff@nhs.net
Clinical Human Factors Lead
Dr Roger Langford
rogerlangford@nhs.net
Simulation Practitioner
Kieran Huddy
Kieran.huddy@nhs.net
Simulation Consultant Leads
Dr Lucy French
lucy.french4@nhs.net
Dr Lewis Connolly
lewis.connolly@nhs.net
Resuscitation Officer
Ella Leuzzi
Ella.leuzzi@nhs.net
All clinical areas throughout the Trust are welcome to approach us for training. We can assist in the design of scenarios to meet the specific training needs of your specialty. Please get in touch if you think your clinical area would benefit from this training or you would like to discuss a training programme.
How to get involved in training
If you have an interest in Simulation we would be pleased to hear from you. If you would relish the opportunity to be involved in delivering simulation training we would welcome your input.
