Dear Network Members,
Though Santa only spreads joy in December, the CSMEN team works hard all year to bring the best of simulation to educators, trainers and trainees. Thank YOU for all your support. Thank you to all the simulation centres, territorial boards, academic institutions, royal colleges and care homes we have collaborated with this year. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you and invite you to look over the past year with us!
From our team to yours, CSMEN would like to wish you the happiest of holidays and look forward to working with you in the future.
Our team has grown – 3 new babies and 3 new temporary administrators!
Medical Simulation
In 2025 we consolidated our medical simulation training into well established, well received courses with a very positive impact.
Impact of Medical Simulation Training
· 100% of trainees would recommend their course
· The course overall average score was 4.91/5 (where 5 = very good)
· The likelihood of making changes to my practice following this course was 4.61/5 (where 5 = extremely likely)
Mobile Skills Unit Update
A Year of Innovation and Impact Across Scotland
2025 has been a record year for the Mobile Skills Unit (MSU), delivering over 233 training sessions, engaging 1,796 participants, and visiting 31 sites across Scotland. From remote and rural locations to care homes and major hospitals, the MSU has continued to bring cutting-edge simulation-based education to healthcare professionals, emergency services and communities.
Key Highlights of 2025
Barra and Vatersay Major Incident Exercise
· A standout achievement was the Barra and Vatersay multi-agency major incident exercise, contributing to the development of the major incident response plan for NHS services in Barra and Vatersay.
· Feedback from Dr Eleanor Barkell; “The MSU provided practical, face to face education in a safe, supportive and professional environment working with an innovative inspirational team who bring out the best in people with their expertise, compassion, pathos and humour.”
Island Tours and Community Engagement
· Shetland Tour: our most ambitious island tour to date visiting five locations across Shetland—Brae, Yell, Unst, Whalsay, Lerwick—the 20 day tour enhanced trauma response capabilities, clinical skills, and community engagement through simulation-based learning and inter-agency collaboration.
· Western Isles Deployment: Barra, Benbecula, and Stornoway saw clinical skills training, psychiatry training and major incident exercises involving nurses, medics, SAS, Police, Fire Crews, Coastguard, RNLI, and Mountain Rescue.
Care Home Training on the Road
· Over 440 care home staff from care homes across Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Grampian benefited from hands-on sessions in venepuncture, wound care, catheterisation, and delirium risk reduction.
· With glowing feedback: “Great opportunity to practice and build confidence.”
Expanding Reach and Collaboration
· Supporting the military at Glenrothes Army Reserve Centre, and Leuchars Station 612 Sqn RAF Reservists. Focusing on major trauma and aeromedical evacuation.
· Partnerships flourished with NHS 24, Health and Social Care Partnerships, and NHS Fife Mental Health Teams.
Faculty Development and Innovation
· Four MSU Faculty Development Courses ran at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, equipping educators with simulation-based teaching skills.
· The MSU welcomed a new SimNewB manikin, enhancing neonatal training capabilities nationwide.
Overview
· Total Attendance: 1,796 (some statistics are still to be received)
· Training Sessions Delivered: 233
· MSU Visits: 31
· Faculty Development Courses: 4
Impact of the MSU
· 99% of people rated training delivered on MSU as excellent or good
· 99% of people rated the MSU facility as excellent or good
· 98% said training on the MSU was of benefit to them
Conferences
You can find a link to conferences relevant to clinical skills and simulation here.
Network
Please share this newsletter with colleagues as appropriate. You can sign up to join the CSMEN network and receive monthly newsletters here.
All the very best,
Karen and Karis
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