Consultant Dr Justin Richards and nursing Sister Jess Buckley are pictured here with the brand new simulation training mannequin and equipment that arrived ten days ago.
Here Jess explains why simulation training is vital, and thanks the First Touch donors who enabled us to buy the equipment for the neonatal unit;
‘We are extremely thankful to First Touch and its supporters – particular Dotty Bridal, the Geneva70 Swim Team and the family of the late Sylvia Keogh – in raising funds for the ‘SuperTory,’ Neonatal high fidelity simulator.
The care provided to Neonates at St George’s is underpinned by an evidence and research-based ethos and has a strong commitment to teaching and learning which enables us to deliver outstanding care for babies and their families. Our teams manage babies with a complex and varied mix of clinical conditions. There is a well-established ongoing program of staff training to meet the needs of both the nursing and medical workforce. This involves a range of modalities of teaching in the classroom and at the bedside. However it is challenging to train staff for rare emergency situations in a way that is both realistic and safe. Simulation training is one way of exposing staff to these complex scenarios and providing learning at individual, team and system levels.
This model is well established within other high risk industries such as nuclear, military and aviation industry, and has been used successfully as part of training in modern day healthcare. Simulation training is now considered standard practice in tertiary Neonatal Units across the country and ‘SuperTory’ will allow regular multi-professional teaching and training to maintain safe and excellent care within our department.
Like most technological equipment, modern simulation dolls have moved on significantly since our previous one from 2009. They no longer need to be directly connected to power and gas supplies and can be managed remotely, allowing for a more realistic in-situ training experience for staff. This also significantly reduces set up times for each simulation allowing for a more reliable, consistent and regular delivery of Simulation teaching on NNU.
Thank you all.
