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PRESS RELEASE: 14 January 2005

New state-of-the-art simulation centre for Addenbrooke's

The simulation centre in use

A new state-of-the-art simulation centre that teaches doctors, nurses and other health professionals important skills is being officially launched at Addenbrooke's Hospital on Wednesday 19 January. The centre is the only one of its kind within the eastern region.

The High Fidelity Simulation Centre uses machines and mannequins that simulate a wide variety of realistic medical scenarios, such as heart attacks and shock states. The mannequins - which come in both adult and child sizes - are computer-driven, blink, speak and breathe, and have a heartbeat and pulse. Simulating crisis situations tests users' clinical skills and their ability to work well under pressure, and individual and team responses are analysed using sophisticated audio-visual equipment in an adjoining conference room.

Sarah Raper, Sister on the John Farman Intensive Care Unit, with one of the mannequins

There are many benefits to learning using simulated situations, improving basic skills so that they are not practised on patients, and allowing clinicians to achieve competency in a safer environment without putting the patient at risk.

Speaking about the centre, Professor Arun Gupta, Director of Postgraduate Medical Education, said: "The Simulation Centre will be an invaluable asset to the Trust in helping to train a broad range of healthcare professionals, both within hospitals around this region as well as those in primary care. This facility offers a unique opportunity to learn in a ‘real life’ simulated environment, resulting in more highly trained personnel, which will ultimately enhance patient safety and improve the quality of care to our patients."

The centre has been funded by the Workforce Development Confederation, the Eastern Deanery, Addenbrooke's Charities and the Critical Care Network.

For further press/media information contact: PR & Communications Department, Box 53, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ; Tel: 01223 274 433; Fax: 01223 257 143; Minicom: 01223 274 604.