An update from the simulation team

Simulation-based education (SBE) is considered an important and vital component of postgraduate medical education and multi-professional education. The south west regional office is committed to providing high-quality educational resources for our clinicians. SBE is an important element of training that is widely recognised as a means of improving patient outcomes through enhanced learning of evidence-based standards. 

Background 

The south west regional office is committed to providing high-quality educational resources for our clinicians. Simulation-based education (SBE) is considered an important and vital component of postgraduate medical education and multi-professional education. Its adoption is supported by national policies and an expanding body of literature and is recognised by HEE/NHSE to be a priority workstream. SBE is an important element of training that is widely recognised as a means of improving patient outcomes through enhanced learning of evidence-based standards. SBE training is recognised as an extremely useful teaching method and has become commonplace in many medical specialties and other clinical areas. SBE is in the core curricula for most medical specialties, is endorsed by JRCPTB/HEE and Colleges.  SBE is also increasing used in the training of nurses and allied health care professionals. There is increasing national interest in Simulation and immersive technologies and there are strong links to national HEE TEL and Digital and Virtual learning programmes. 

In the south west we have developed an excellent Simulation Network with circa of 350 members across 7 counties (Gloucestershire, Somerset, Avon, Devon, Wiltshire, Dorset and Cornwall). We have developed a framework for Simulation, Quality Improvement and a set of professional practice guidelines which can be found on our website.

The Simulation work also aligns with national strategies and priorities: 

• National Strategic Vision for simulation and immersive technologies in health and care (HEE TEL) (2020) 
• National Framework for Simulation-based Education (HEE TEL) (2018) 
• NHS Long Term Plan (2019)-drive to support technology and digitally enabled care in NHS 
• TTOPOL Review (2019) “Preparing healthcare workforce to deliver the digital future in NHS” 
• Enhancing Working lives of doctors in training through the Interim People Plan (June 2019), NHS Patient Safety Strategy (2019), Health Education England Business Plan 2019-2020, Health Education Mandate 2018 – 2020., Supports the Quality Improvement Framework (2017) 

The Simulation Network aims to provide a community of practice for multi-professional educators implementing simulation-based education as an educational tool within their organisation. The purpose is to bring together individuals and stakeholders who are enthusiastic and interested in patient safety, quality improvement, clinical education, technology enhanced learning & human factors using simulation delivery as the basis to the education.  

Quarterly network and project meetings are held to support projects.  Through project funding, the Simulation Network also supports the development of simulation technicians and apprentices, facilitate their training and acquisition of qualifications.  Quarterly reports are mandated which track progress and deviation from project timeline and progress.  

These projects have benefited education and training, brought efficiency, drove quality improvement and enhanced patient safety and their experience in NHS. 

Online spaces are being built to share the results and outputs of the various SBE projects that have been completed across the SW work, and some of these can be found at https://www.severndeanery.nhs.uk/about-us/ped/education/simulation-network/. Multiple projects have demonstrated significant patient safety and quality improvement outcomes.  

The SW Simulation Network is recognised to be a leading authority in simulation.  

HEESWSN mission statement: 

‘Supporting implementation of simulation to improve healthcare outcomes’

Achieved through: 

1. Developing standards to quality assure simulation delivery (Educators, Local Delivery) 
2. Sharing resources through iRIS platform to ensure equity of access to high quality simulation  
3. Including all involved in healthcare to promote learning from and with each other by expanding SW Simulation Network and continual project funding  
4. Establishing leads for Human Factors and Simulation in each organisation delivering healthcare across HEESW 
5. Developing simulation educators through network faculty development course and mentoring. 
6. Collaborative work with the National Simulation and TEL Networks to develop and share resources and innovations 
7. Develop our work streams (Special Interest Groups): Research, Innovation and TEL, Multi-professional team working, Standardised patient and Technicians 

How to get involved or get in touch 

Please contact simulation.SW@hee.nhs.uk 

Simulation Leads 

Dr Dan Freshwater-Turner 

Consultant Intensive Care Medicine & Anaesthesia 

Simulation Services and Simulation Centre Lead 

Associate Dean for Simulation & Patient Safety 

Lead South West Simulation Network 

Professor Wai Tse 

Consultant Nephrologist, Plymouth Hospital NHS Trust 

Associate Postgraduate Dean for Simulation