Dear Network Members,
The heat is not the only the only thing ramping up this May – simulation and education activity is also in full swing across Scotland! In this issue, we highlight details of our most recent sim centre exploration, news on the MSU reaching new (training) heights and the announcement of another new resource. Please also find included opportunities to attend courses and updates from our delivery partners.
CSMEN Quarterly Review Visit - Western General Hospital
The CSMEN Team had the pleasure of visiting the Western General Hospital’s Medical Education Centre (MEC) as part of our continued efforts to keep up to date with simulation centres and resources around Scotland.
Completed in 2020 as a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian, the MEC provides access to clinical skills practice spaces and debrief rooms and is one of four (soon to be five) simulation centres managed by NHS Lothian. The centre and NHS Lothian utilise strong inter-centre links to facilitate the delivery of quality training, exemplifying what can be achieved as a collective and the centre itself embodies what it is to be small but mighty in impact! We look forward to exploring what the future holds for simulation in NHS Lothian following its upcoming developments.
Interested in what simulation resources are available around Scotland? Why not take a look at the Simulation Resources in Scotland section of the CSMEN website and explore a full list of simulation centres and their available equipment!
Mobile Skills Unit Update
May has been another busy and successful month for the Mobile Skills Unit (MSU), delivering high-quality, multi-professional training across Scotland.
Helimed 79
The MSU returned to Helimed 79 at Aberdeen Airport in partnership with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA). This highly valued programme brought together colleagues from the Scottish Ambulance Service, SCAA and wider emergency services for a series of adult and paediatric trauma sessions. The training was very well received, and we are delighted that plans are already underway for a return visit next year.
MSU Faculty Development Course
At Forth Valley Royal Hospital, SCSCHF delivered the ever-popular MSU Faculty Development Course. Over two days, future hosts and trainers gained the knowledge and confidence to support safe, effective delivery of MSU training within their own areas.
Courses for the rest of the year are fully booked however spaces remain available for next year’s course and further dates are in development.
- Thursday 13 & Friday 14 August 2026 (FULL - WAITING LIST ONLY)
- Thursday 3 & Friday 4 December 2026 (FULL - WAITING LIST ONLY)
- Thursday 4 & Friday 5 February 2027
Further information on the course can be found here and to sign up, fill in the registration form!
Shetland Isles
We finish the month in the Shetland Isles, where the MSU is supporting an intensive 10-day, multi-agency training programme. The programme brings together a wide range of professionals and includes:
- Basic Life Support (BLS) and First Aid
- Dental emergencies
- Trauma and spinal immobilisation with Fire and Rescue Service colleagues
- Midwifery training
- Coastguard BLS/AED and airway management
- Clinical skills training sessions – cannulation, catheterisation, NG tube
- Interactive escape room workshops with local school pupils
This diverse programme reflects the MSU’s unique ability to deliver flexible, responsive training tailored to the needs of remote and rural communities.
New Resource
CSMEN is thrilled to announce that a new online resource on Vascular Access Devices (VADs) is now available on TURAS. This resource has been developed in collaboration with NHS Fife, NHS Grampian and NHS Lanarkshire. It is a multi-professional resource which aims to establish standardised training for the theory and management of VADs for nursing, medical and relevant allied healthcare professions.
The resource has been structured into two learning units:
1. Theory
2. Care and maintenance
Learning outcomes include understanding:
· the applications of VADs
· the types of VADs and specific uses
· contra-indications and complications of VADs
· documentation required
· how to administer medication via a VAD
· how to sample blood from a VAD
· how to maintain the patency of a VAD
· the dissemination of relevant information to patients to maintain their VAD
· the safe removal of a VAD
More of our online resources can be found here and tools specific to developing your own SBE resources can be found in the simulation toolbox!
Upcoming Conferences
Irish Association for Simulation
Pre-conference workshops: Thursday 4 June 2026
Annual Conference: Friday 5 June
SESAM Lyon 2026
SESAM Pre Congress: Monday 15 June - Tuesday 16 June 2026
SESAM Annual Meeting: Wednesday 17 June - Friday 19 June 2026
Further conference details relevant to clinical skills and simulation are available on the CSMEN website.
BASICS Scotland Update
Please refer to the BASICS Scotland website or all course dates.
SCSCHF Update
The popular online course Getting Started in Simulation-Based Research is running again on Friday 18 September.
This one day course (9am-4pm) is an ideal introduction for anyone wanting to embark on a simulation-based research project - covering the whole project lifecycle from planning and ethics to dissemination. Please highlight the course to anyone (especially new sim fellows or CTF / CDFs starting in August) who might be interested.
Booking is via the SCSCHF website, or email Vicky Tallentire for more information (Vicky.Tallentire@ed.ac.uk):
Please refer to the SCSCHF website for all course dates.
DIHS Update
Please refer to DIHS website for all course dates.