Every MSU visit is unique, shaped by the needs and setting of each location.
To show what hosting can look like in practice, here's an account of a visit from the perspective of an MSU host in Shetland
Tracy Lavelle, Resus/Practice Education Officer
The Mobile Skills Unit (MSU) arrived on Sunday 24 May and was located in Montfield Hospital car park (Lerwick). During the visit the unit hosted a range of clinical skills training and educational sessions for staff, partner organisations and the Shetland community.
Each year the MSU visits Shetland, the local community are provided with opportunities for learning and development in an environment equipped with state of the art manikins and facilities. The MSU visit is my greatest work highlight, I enjoy this opportunity to meet and train with folks I would otherwise not normally meet. It is always a learning event for me, where I gain better understanding of how other teams and services operate.
This year the MSU visited for 10 days, but myself and the other trainers made every day a training day on the MSU. We provided training for > 100 people, they included emergency services : First Responders, HMCG, Fire crews, dental teams, midwives, community nursing teams, O.T’s, physiotherapists, care home health care support workers, students nurses, and the general public who requested baby and child first aid, plus school children who performed very well in an NHS escape room.
NHS staff with varied and exciting careers popped on to the MSU to share their careers, with the local school children, these included the laboratory manager Paula, pharmacist Louise, NHS Shetland director Brian Chittick, Karen an addictions nurse, and Wendy from drugs and alcohol. With the high drug and alcohol use apparent across Scotland, and high death rates associated with these behaviours I was asked to manage Narcan training and information, this was shared by Wendy and Karen.
Despite working with the NHS for 25 years, I learned so much from my colleagues. I was impressed at how much they have achieved for their patients and society. What was also very apparent with the staff sharing careers is how much life experience they have alongside the NHS experience they offer colleagues and patients, what an amazing group of staff I work with and without inviting them on to the MSU much would have remained unknown. I am delighted they made time to pop onto the MSU and show case what they offer their teams and services provided to folks on Shetland.
The MSU can take time to organise, but it is getting easier to engage with staff who appreciate the skills and training provided on the MSU. This year I received lots of positive feedback, but the equipment that provided the most fun was SimMan and the GERT Age Simulation suit.
The MSU was visited by Jo and Hasan from the Shetland Times and Ross from BBC Radio Shetland they were all impressed with the facilities and scope for learning and training on the MSU. We were fortunate to highlight the positives of the MSU for Shetland in the Shetland Times both online and in paper and the Radio BBC Shetland.
Read The Shetland Times feature of the MSU - State-of-the-art mobile skills unit brings advanced healthcare training to Shetland
Listen to the BBC radio segment about the MSU - Good Evening Shetland 3 June 2026
We are looking forward to another MSU visit, and preparations begin again for 2027.
Thanks to all the folk who made the effort to join us on the MSU for training. Thanks to Andrew Best and Carol Dade for providing essential training, Thanks to Lynn [Hardie] and the [CSMEN] team for organising the MSU to arrive. Thanks to the teachers for organising their pupils, and managers for releasing staff for training.
Interested in hosting the Mobile Skills Unit for simulated training delivery in your location?
- Have a look at the facilities and equipment onboard - ensure it is suitable for your training needs
- Choose dates for your visit - you can check availability on the MSU calendar
- Scope a venue for training delivery - make sure it meets the venue requirements for the MSU
- Once you have a date in mind, get in touch by completing the booking enquiry form
If you have any further questions that cannot be answered on our Frequently Asked Questions page, don't hesitate to get in touch with the MSU Senior Officer, Lynn Hardie (Lynn.Hardie@nhs.scot)
Please note: In order to host the MSU, the host must have completed the MSU Faculty Development Course which covers how to use the MSU, becoming familiar with its equipment and an introduction to simulation. Sign up by completing the registration form.
