£730,000 medical training unit opens at city hospital

A simulation centre and technical skills laboratory, which cost more than £730,000 to create was opened yesterday by Professor Sir Christopher Edwards, chairman of NHS Medical Education England.

The technical skills laboratory, which cost £485,000, provides facilities for the teaching of advanced surgical techniques across a range of medical specialities and is dedicated to the advancement of medical training. A smaller seminar room equipped with six dental head simulators will train dentists and related-staff.

A simulation centre, built at a cost of more than £245,000, consists of several simulated clinical environments including a four-bedded ward complete with hoist; a multi-purpose room which can replicate a patient’s home; a clinician’s consulting room; a discussion room, and a modern operating theatre plus resuscitation area where students and teachers can recreate real-life medical scenarios.

All areas of the simulation centre are equipped with audio-visual digital recording equipment to allow various realistic training scenarios to be captured on cameras for feedback purposes

Maria Neary, general manager for education, said: “Team-working and clinical skills can all be assessed within the safety of the centre and the potential for this facility continues to grow.”