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The theme of the Northern Ireland Interactive Simulation Forum was ‘Training Together to Save Lives Together’ and was held today in the cutting-edge KN Cheung SK Chin InterSim Centre, a specialised simulated health care facility based at the University. 

It features a range of technical and clinical equipment, including specialist humanoid manikins to simulate a variety of healthcare scenarios, enabling students and healthcare professionals across Northern Ireland to train together in interactive scenarios that closely replicate the real clinical world. 

The Forum showcased how both Queen’s University ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, Ulster University, Clinical Education Centre’s, healthcare Trusts, NIMDTA, and GP practices are working together to foster a culture of learning and teamwork to ensure safe and effective healthcare for all in Northern Ireland. 

Attendees had the opportunity to observe and speak with experienced academics and clinicians showcasing a range of innovative simulation-based scenarios including in areas of community and GP; mental health; learning disability; pharmacy; palliative care; midwifery; paramedics, as well as acute hospital care. 

Commenting on the importance of the event, Professor Marian Traynor, Director of the KN Cheung SK Chin InterSim Centre at Queen’s University ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ said: 

“We are delighted at the success of today’s Forum and are very proud to have been the first in the UK and Ireland to host such an important and informative event.

“The day provided the opportunity for healthcare leaders and simulation experts from across Northern Ireland to come together for the first time and enabled attendees to see first-hand the power of simulation-based education to support collaborative healthcare practices that are easily transferable to all clinical areas strengthening our clinical learning environments. 

“Across Northern Ireland interprofessional simulation-based education is revolutionising how we are educating and training our healthcare students by enhancing teamwork skills, promoting collaboration, driving safety, and transforming healthcare.  

"The challenge for us as we move forward is to continue to build a coherent, collaborative and sustainable approach to interprofessional simulation that will ultimately lead to measurable improvements in patient safety, team performance and service quality.”  

Professor Sharon Weldon, President of The Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH), a key speaker at the event, commented: “The Northern Ireland Simulation Forum demonstrated what becomes possible when education, practice, patients, and policy align around a shared purpose. Simulation creates a safe space to explore complexity, build collective understanding and rehearse change before it reaches patients.  

"As healthcare systems face increasing pressure, embedding simulation in this way will be critical to delivering safer care, stronger teams and more effective system-wide transformation.” 

Dr Julie-Anna Rankin, Emergency Department Consultant, who demonstrated a simulation activity at the Forum said: “It was a great privilege to demonstrate the multi-agency, interspecialty and interprofessional learning from the first of its kind - the 'Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy-Immersive Course'.? 

“The course was originally designed and initially delivered by a Senior Paediatric Trainee, Dr Sarah Rafferty, in the Southern Trust. Alongside the PSNI, the Public Health Agency, medical and nursing colleagues, the Coroners Service Northern Ireland and actors, the Forum provided an opportunity to show an immersive day of learning to equip learners with the skills to deal with this tragic and difficult scenario.?

"Following a social media announcement on behalf of the Trust, a family contacted Dr Rafferty directly to share the loss of their son Teddy. The family have shown endless bravery and now are integral to the course sharing their real-life experience to try to help professionals to compassionately understand the loss of an infant and the importance of good communication.?

"Following the Sim Forum, the hope is that there will be recognition and enablement to ensure this course is sustainable and deliverable across all Trusts, ensuring the highest standard of care and support to those affected by a tragic loss of an infant.” 

Media

Media inquiries to Sian Devlin at s.devlin@qub.ac.uk