Simulation training is critical

Hospital staff faced with treating the most critically ill babies, children and young people need to be as prepared as possible – but how do you train doctors and nurses when real-life emergencies carry such high stakes?

The answer: simulate scenarios that are as close as can be to the real thing – in which all staff who would need to respond in a genuine emergency are able to practice performing under pressure, making decisions, communicating and delivering complex critical treatments effectively.

To make this kind of training possible, we funded specialist equipment in the form of life-size dummies or ‘Sims’. They mimic the responses of a deteriorating baby or child and allow critical care teams to hone their skills so they are prepared for an actual emergency response.

Managing acute emergencies in critically ill children requires more than traditional lectures and textbook work. The 'Sims' have been fantastic training tools. Simulation training has become an integral part of our Critical Care practice.

Dr Jon McCormack, Consultant in Paediatric Anaesthesia and Critical Care

Edinburgh’s children’s hospital was one of the first major hospitals to adopt this highly innovative approach of in-situ simulation training, thanks to this charity-funded equipment.

And the evidence shows that it is having a really positive impact on outcomes for babies, children and young people. After three years of staff having weekly simulation training, fewer children needed to be admitted to intensive care; those who were admitted recovered more quickly, and there were fewer deaths overall.

Providing grants for training and research is an important part of what we do as a charity and the improvements made in treating critically ill children just goes to show how much of a difference it can make.

We rely entirely on donations to fund life-changing equipment like the ‘Sims’. Click below to find out how you can support this vital work.