CSMEN January Update
Dear Network Members,
The start of a new year brings a fresh diary to fill – fortunately healthcare never pauses nor do the educators who keep it moving! The 2026 simulation calendar is already packed with opportunities for learners and educators alike to engage, develop, and grow.
In this edition, we are delighted to share with you our plans for the Mobile Skills Unit along with a range of courses designed to support upskilling across the workforce. You can also find details of upcoming events and conferences that offer the chance to immerse yourself in the world of clinical simulation and connect with colleagues across the community.
Mobile Skills Unit
The Mobile Skills Unit (MSU) is rolling into 2026 with momentum, ambition, and a wide ranging programme.
Planned Visits
A Strong Start: Clinical Skills and Simulation Excellence
February sees the MSU return to the Golden Jubilee Hospital for advanced practice training and immersive simulation — with another visit lined up for October. We’re also thrilled to be back supporting care homes across Scotland, delivering training in Golspie, Inverness, and Greater Glasgow and Clyde in partnership with the Care Home Collaborative.
Dumfries and Galloway: A Tightly Integrated Learning Programme
In March, the MSU heads south for an action packed tour of Dumfries and Galloway, visiting Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer and Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. This visit features a powerful collaboration with key partners, including:
- Dumfries & Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership
- NHS 24
- Scottish Fire & Rescue Service
- Scottish Ambulance Service
Island Season Begins: Training With Reach and Purpose
As spring turns to summer, we start our island tours — a cornerstone of the MSU’s mission to provide equitable access to high quality education.
First stop: Tiree, supporting BASICS Scotland with prehospital emergency care training.
Then we continue to Mull and Iona Community Hospital, strengthening skills across remote healthcare teams.
Next, the MSU returns to Shetland for a two week programme packed with multiagency, multiprofessional training, initial plans include; Paediatric trauma, Airway management, BLS and First Responder training and Dental emergencies.
From Shetland, we are heading straight into our first Outer Isles tour in Orkney. This ambitious two week trip aims to reach five islands, with local trainers planning their training programmes to include:
The deteriorating child
- ILS
- Trauma
- Obstetric emergencies
- ScotSTAR paediatric retrieval
- BLS for schools and community groups
A truly exciting milestone in our mission to support equity of access and sustainability.
Skye, Western Isles, and Beyond
Summer continues with a return to Skye — one week at Broadford Hospital and one at Portree — plans are underway to deliver essential skills including venepuncture, cannulation, catheterisation, minor injuries, managing the deteriorating patient, and a mass casualty scenario.
In September, we head back for our annual, three week Western Isles tour: Barra, Outer Uist and Barra Hospital in Benbecula, and Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway. The programme includes Emergency Medical Retrieval Service (EMRS) liaison visits, resuscitation training, clinical skills delivery, and simulation scenarios tailored to local team needs.
Supporting Mental Health and Primary Care Teams
Throughout 2026, the MSU will collaborate with the NHS Fife Mental Health Team across four sites to deliver clinical skills training and mental health simulation sessions.
The GP CPD Connect team will also be utilising the MSU in Inverness to deliver high impact GP professional development.
Spaces remain in the MSU 2026 Diary — check the MSU Calendar and take a look at How to book a visit for more information.
MSU Faculty development course – don't miss out!
The MSU faculty development course, delivered at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, brings participants the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the MSU, equipment and how best to utilise it for delivering training. Completion of the course qualifies participants to host the MSU or provide training onboard. Courses will be running on the following dates:
· Thursday 5 & 6 February 2026 (FULL - WAITING LIST ONLY)
· Thursday 26 and Friday 27 February 2026
· Thursday 9 and Friday 10 April 2026 (FULL - WAITING LIST ONLY)
· Thursday 13 and Friday 14 August 2026
· Thursday 3 and Friday 4 December 2026
· Thursday 4 and Friday 5 February 2027
For more information and registration visit MSU Faculty Development Course.
Conferences
A list of upcoming conferences can be found below.
- Digifest 10-11 March 2026, Birmingham, England
- National Workforce and Education Conference 23-24 April 2026, Online
- Society for Simulation in Europe Conference 17-19 June 2026, Lyon, France
- Association for Medical Education Conference 22-26 August 2026, Vienna, Austria
- Scottish Simulation SIMposium 20 August 2026, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- The Pre-Hospital Care Conference 8-9 October 2026, Location TBC
- Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare Conference 25-27 November 2026, Yorkshire, England
The CSMEN website keeps an up-to-date list of conferences relevant to clinical skills and simulation here.
E-Skills Resource Group – Get involved!
In 2026 the E-Skills Resource Group will be reconvening with the aim of a renewed “Once for Scotland” approach to the development of online clinical skills resources. The group will be reviewing resources relating to a number of key skills including:
Venepuncture
Arterial blood gas sampling
ECG interpretation
Nasogastric insertion
Nasogastric feeding
Blood cultures
Urinary catheterisation
IV medicines administration
Intramuscular injections
Joint injection
Suturing
Ear syringing and microsuction
CVAD
Lumbar puncture
If you or a colleague may be interested in joining the group, we welcome you to email CSMEN@nes.scot.nhs.uk
ASPIH Four Nations Framework – Have your say!
ASPiH has led on a four nations and Ireland approach to launching a Professional Development Framework for interprofessional simulation in health and care.
The first iteration can be found here: Professional Development Framework – ASPiH .
It builds on the ASPiH Standards for Simulation-Based Practice and has been designed to align with national quality, workforce, and policy priorities across the UK and Ireland.
Have a look and complete the survey here to make sure your views are included in future versions.
SCSCHF Update
The 'Getting Started in Simulation-Based Research' course is back and there will be an online course run on Friday 13 March (9:30am - 4:30pm). It is the ideal course for anyone (of any profession) new to simulation-based research and wanting to start a project or inject some energy into an existing one. Online booking now open here via the SCSCHF website.
BASICS Scotland Update
Please refer to the BASICS Scotland website for all course dates.
DIHS Update
Please refer to DIHS website for all course dates.
Network
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) has pulled together a host of internationally renowned speakers for the half day online event 'What can Simulation do for you?'
Date and time: Wednesday 11 February (1pm-5pm).
Target audience: It is aimed at anyone involved in health and social care to explore how simulation can be used as far more than an educational tool and can transform everyday practice.
Online booking now open here via the RCPE website.
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 & Karis
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