During the last year we have seen a lot of activity at Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust in the area of Human Patient Simulation, including the launch of the new Simulation Suite at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, acquision of high–fidelity patient simulators and appointment of new staff members.  Now this newly formed Simulation team led by Dr Andy Lockey, Director of Medical Education, and Dr Claire Morisson, former Lead for Clinical Skills & Simulation, has launched a website and e-learning platform.

The website was developed by Dr Ivor Kovic, Senior Fellow in Emergency Medicine & Human Patient Simulation, and can be found at http://simsuite.cht.nhs.uk. The purpose of the website is to promote educational activities in human patient simulation across the Trust, and serve as a hub to connect staff members who are interested in learning, as well as those who have a passion to teach.

Dr Kovic said: “We needed a dedicated website to show everyone what we are doing in the area of medical simulation, to promote our activities and engage even more people to join us."

Website offers up to date information about simulation facilities, available simulators and skills trainers, courses that are currently running, and most importantly a directory of staff involved in simulation across various departments.

Dr Kovic added: “We did not want to make just another static website that you visit once and have no reason to come back.We want to open up communication channels and get people engaged”.

For these reasons the website features options to directly book rooms and equipment, but also to suggest courses that staff would like to attend or even develop and teach themselves.

“We have a fantastic human potential in our Trust and a great opportunity to learn from each other, so to push things even further we have also launched a dedicated e-learning platform”. 

E-learning platform currently features two blended learning courses, that combine online learning and practical skills training. Courses in Intraosseous access and Ultrasound guided peripheral venous access are available immediately for all CHFT staff to start learning in their own time, location and pace, requiring only an Internet connection. The plans for the future are to add many more courses from various disciplines and to allow all interested medical professionals in the Trust to create their own courses.

Dr Kovic added: “I am extremely proud that the whole portal, both the website and e-learning platform, is powered by free open-source software, which allows standardization and independent customization, while significantly lowering costs of development and maintenance. My hope is that with an ever-growing number of online courses we will be able to clearly demonstrate the benefits of such an approach and take it even further with the support of the Trust."