Work begins on state-of-the-art suite

Work has begun on the construction of a state-of-the-art simulation suite at University Centre Shrewsbury’s main teaching facility, Guildhall.

The suite will be used for a range of undergraduate and post-graduate teaching across departments, including adult nursing, and health and exercise science, and it will also be made available to community health partners. The facilities will include a fully-equipped three-bedded bay that accurately portrays real-world health care scenarios.

It will be completed by the start of the new academic year in September, when the foundation year of the Adult Nursing BN (Hons) programme begins.

“This suite is the final step in preparing UCS for adult nursing students in the Autumn term,” said Professor Debbie Roberts, head of Health and Social Care at UCS. “It is a wonderful asset to UCS and the community. Once it is complete, we look forward to welcoming community partners who can also benefit from the new facilities.”

The suite provides both hospital and community-style environments where standardised and human patient simulators can be used to deliver a range of real-world scenarios.

Human patient simulators, are highly sophisticated computer-controlled mannequins that can be programmed to exhibit a range of realistic signs and symptoms, such as breathing, crying, bleeding and talking. They also have palpable pulses, and audible chest, heart and bowel sounds. Using these simulators enables learners to observe, rehearse and practice realistic health-related scenarios in a safe, environment, without any risk or harm to real patients.

Standardised patients are actors that can help students to refine interpersonal skills and can also reproduce specific patient stories for medical, nursing and other health professionals to assess and treat.

The suite will be equipped with hospital beds, cabinets and bedside monitors, along with realistic hospital sounds and all the necessary hospital equipment. There will also be a single room facility that can be used as a flexible space for intensive care and resuscitation scenarios, or alternatively, the space can be used as a community setting, replicating an individual’s own home..

“The centre will be integral to transferring knowledge in clinical simulation techniques to wider audiences outside of the conventional medical community, including emergency services, volunteering organisations and the private sector, said Professor Roberts.

The new centre will be used for interprofessional and interagency work, including:

Community outreach: supporting families to care for a family member with dementia or towards the end of life

Exercise at home, and home adaptations to prevent falls in older people

Human/computer interactions and the use of digital applications and technology to support independent living at home for people with a learning disability, or older people

A foundation year for the BN Adult Nursing programme begins at UCS this September. You can also study Health and Exercise Science at UCS (BSc or Foundation Year) which uses exercise to help promote, prevent and prolong life, as well as several science-related degree programmes. COVID-related safety measures are in place, with the safety of our students and staff being paramount.