South West Simulation Network
Background
Simulation-based education (SBE) is considered an important and vital component of postgraduate medical education and non-medical education. The Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians, Training Board (JRCPTB) and NHS England (NHSE) are committed to harnessing faculty and technology to support the development of excellence in education and to drive up the quality of Medical Training alongside the multi-professional route. The COVID pandemic has halted face to face teaching and led to a new paradigm of education in healthcare that increasingly involves technology and innovative ways to provide training. UK has the highest number of advanced simulation centres in Europe and the NHS is regarded as a global leader in the field of SBE.
The TOPOL review "Preparing healthcare work force to deliver the digital future” endorses a digital future in NHS. SBE is an effective way of enhancing learning and improving patient safety and care; evidence has also shown simulation by remote facilitation significantly improved learners' performance. SBE also offers an opportunity to enhance the trainees’, ‘nurses’, or allied health care professionals’ understanding and awareness of the importance of ‘human factors’ in healthcare.
The SW Simulation Network is working with the national Simulation and TEL teams to develop Return to Training, Virtual Learning, Faculty Development, Digital and remote learning technologies, and Immersive Technology programmes. The scope of the SW Simulation Network is broad enough to encompass all simulation and TEL activity across the NHS, HEIs and social care organisations in the SW. The SW Simulation Network strategic direction aligns with the national SBE strategy.
Mission statement
To implement Simulation-Based Education to improve healthcare outcomes across the South West
Achieved through:
- Developing standards to quality assure simulation delivery
- Developing SBE and TEL in health care organisations
- Sharing resources through iRIS platform to ensure equity of access to high quality simulation
- Including all involved in healthcare to promote learning from and with each other
- Developing simulation educators through network faculty development course
Objectives
- Quality Assurance of simulation delivery through setting agreed standards of best practice
- Sharing resources to ensure equity of access to high quality simulation
- Including all involved in healthcare to promote learning with each other from each other
- Establishing organisational leads for Simulation in each organisation delivering healthcare across HEESW
- Establish network faculty development course