A hospital ward, GP surgery, operating theatre, and CT scanner are among the environments featured in a brand-new healthcare simulation suite at Keele University. 

Designed for use by students across the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, the  state-of-the-art facility has been created to give students the chance to practice and hone their skills in a realistic environment throughout their curriculum. 

The facility is being used by students across the Faculty including those studying Medicine, Paramedic Science, Nursing, Radiography, Physiotherapy, and a variety of other courses. 

The first students have already begun using the facility with pre-reg Occupational Therapy and Radiography students studying in the simulation suite, and other undergraduate students also set to use the facility in the new academic year. 

The facility itself is also multi-functional, allowing for a variety of complex scenarios touching on different subject areas. Examples include simulations such as student paramedics ‘working’ in simulated GP surgeries, or in a more traditional role in handing patients over to ward staff on arrival at a hospital, or occupational therapy teams working with patients in their home environment alongside other health and social care professionals. 

Based in the University’s Darwin building in the centre of campus, the suites have also been fully kitted out with cameras, speakers and microphones, allowing lecturers to provide real-time feedback and instructions remotely from a control room in the building, as well as enabling the students to watch their performance back with feedback from academics. 

Professor Naomi Shiner, Faculty Lead for Simulation in Keele’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, said: “I am delighted by the space and opportunities we can now offer students to learn through using simulation. Simulation is beneficial in understanding your emotions, resultant actions and practicing skills in a safe space.  

“The simulation centre will bring together many of our professional programmes to work interprofessionally, navigating scenarios as they will when in clinical practice. In addition, the high level of authenticity provided allows for a range of health and social care programmes to use the facilities for simulated placements. Ensuring students are prepared for working in teams or autonomously and above all able to provide a positive person-centred care experience.  

“The new Darwin building will also complement existing simulation facilities around campus and at our clinical education centre at the Royal Stoke University Hospital site.”