We have invested in cutting edge manikins, which simulate clinical situations, to help provide state-of-the-art training to our staff in maternity and paediatrics.
The two manikins were funded by our Trust charity, the Health Tree Foundation (HTF) after the clinical simulation team made a successful ‘wish’ to the board.
The significant investment will mean our staff at Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole hospitals can take part in highly realistic simulation experiences.
The manikins move, talk and react in the same way patients would.
Victoria, the maternity manikin, comes complete with a baby and is able to replicate many situations from giving birth to emergency surgical interventions.
The paediatric manikin, HAL, is the world’s most advanced paediatric patient simulator and is capable of simulating lifelike emotions through facial expressions and speech.
Investing in training our staff
Nick, clinical simulation lead, said: “The manikins will provide a more interactive and realistic educational experience.
“They can be used across all the multidisciplinary teams including theatres, maternity, paediatric and anaesthesia. They are controlled wirelessly, making their portability and functionality more flexible to meet clinical and educational needs.
“Simulation allows staff to be exposed to clinical scenarios in a safe environment, which develops not only clinical knowledge and competence, but also enhances teamwork by allowing staff to experience the non-technical skills known as human factors, and clinical management including teamwork, communication and situational awareness, to name a few.
“Staff feedback in the past has been very positive in relation to this learning style but also the experience and knowledge gained.”
The manikins are manufactured by Gaumard. Videos showing how they work are available to watch on the company’s YouTube channel.
Making a difference
The clinical simulation team, Dr Alex Quayle, Nick Harrison and Shelly McGuffie, have worked tirelessly over many months in order to evidence, prove and secure this training resource. They said: “It will propel many educational and training programs to another dimension, allowing staff across the Trust to experience a real life situation as close to the real thing as possible.”
Emma Lancaster, advanced children’s nurse practitioner, said: “I want to say a big thank you to HTF. These manikins will make the experience of paediatric simulation more realistic. The paediatric manikin reacts just as a child would. It will make such a massive difference.”
Clinical skills and patient safety midwifes, Keeley Gaunt and Jane Lundy, said: “The maternal manikin, Victoria, will allow staff to undertake clinical situations in a real time environment allowing replication of the ‘real thing’ – something that has not been able to be achieved to date, further enhancing staff engagement and upskilling clinical/non-clinical needs.
Lucy Skipworth, Grimsby’s community champion for HTF, said: “It is fantastic that we have been able to buy these manikins that will make such a big difference to the staff training. I can’t wait to see them in action!”