A pilot simulation-based theatre team training course to improve patient safety

We are about to start running scenario-based simulation sessions for the CPD of clinical teams from the local acute care NHS Trusts. A pilot session for theatre teams was organised to determine the participants’ views about the strengths and weaknesses of the current format of our multidisciplinary simulation-based patient safety course. The aim of the course is to expose the participants to a series of scenarios in order to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and improve the teams’ non-technical skills during crisis situations. The course also included a technical skills teaching component with a difficult airway management workshop. 22 participants including anaesthetists, operating department practitioners, theatre/anaesthetic/recovery nurses took part in 5 anaesthetic scenarios in teams. Each scenario was followed by a debriefing focusing on human factors and patient management. The Martin Bromiley case was presented to the participants after the first scenario alongside communication tools such as SBAR and the two-challenge rule. Feedback was collected through a questionnaire and interviews. The participants found that all aspects of the course were beneficial and that simulation should be available to all staff from their discipline. Several wanted more, shorter, scenarios and a video of their performance, more workshops, and generally fewer participants.