CSMEN September Update
We are excited to introduce our new Network Co-ordinator, Karis Dlodlo, and we are lucky to have her join us for a year whilst Laura is on maternity leave. Karis is our first point of contact for the Network and is combining her industrial placement from University of Aberdeen with working with CSMEN. We are also over the moon to announce Laura is a proud mum to a beautiful baby girl, who keeps her busy!
SIMposium Aberdeen 2025
The Suttie Centre was host for the 2025 Scottish Simulation SIMposium, held at the University of Aberdeen on 27th August. The event included a selection of oral presentations on subjects spanning “The Dundee Wilderness and Expedition Medicine Society Educational Project: Liberating Students to Explore the Wilds of Their Specialty Interests” to “Empowering IMGs through enhanced inductions and simulation-based education”.
A panel inclusive of our very own CSMEN clinical lead, Catherine Paton, followed and workshops and poster presentations from across Scotland related to the conference theme "Simulation amplified: expanding reach, scaling impact" highlighted the challenges of increasing learner numbers alongside the desire for increasing experiential learning opportunities across a diverse range of healthcare curricula.
It was an excellent opportunity to network with the wider simulation community from across Scotland. The day concluded with a keynote presentation from Professor Gerry Gormley from Queen's University Belfast on "Opening the 'black box' of how simulation enables transformation"- describing how simulation doesn't change the world but changes people who change the world.
Suturing Skills Learning Programme live on TURAS
The long-awaited Suturing Skills Pack has been updated and is now live on Turas! The programme, targeted at medical, nursing and allied healthcare professionals, aims to provide standardised training for simple laceration suturing and encompasses three well-structured learning modules:
Unit 1: Theory
Anatomy and physiology of skin, wound types, assessment and management, infection control, local anaesthetic, tetanus, wound closure and wound healing.
Unit 2: Preparation
Equipment, suture types, procedure, consent, discharge and documentation.
Unit 3: Practical
Simple interrupted suture, subcuticular suture, instrument knot tying, sharps disposal and suture removal.
To access the programme, select here
Mobile Skills Unit Update
Back on the road!
After a brief pit stop for repairs throughout the month of August, our beloved Mobile Skills Unit is back in action. September will see it journeying across the Western Isles, facilitating hands-on learning and support to communities further afield in Barra, Benbecula and Stornoway. The recent trip to Barra was supported by the Emergency Medical Retrieval Service (EMRS) and included an NHS Major Incident multi-agency exercise (more on this in our next newsletter).
MSU Faculty Development – spaces available!
What’s next for the MSU? Upon its return to the mainland, we have the MSU Faculty Development course for aspiring hosts, held on the Mobile Skills Unit at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert on the 16th and 17th of October.
This immersive two-day course offers the opportunity for participants to explore and optimise their knowledge of the MSU and its equipment should they plan on using it to deliver training. Spaces for the October course are still available and can be booked here by completing this registration form.
Interested in booking the Mobile Skills Unit for your region? Check out the MSU availability on this calendar and contact Lynn Hardie the MSU Senior Officer nes.msu@nhs.scot to request a booking.
ASPiH Conference 2025
We are pleased to highlight the upcoming ASPiH Annual Conference taking place from 11-13 November at the Bournemouth International Centre. This event brings together leaders, educators and practitioners from across health and social care to explore the theme: Simulation for Impact – Culture, Co-production and creativity.
The programme for the conference can be found here and a guide for registration can be found here.
You can find a link to conferences relevant to clinical skills and simulation here.
BASICS Scotland Update
Core Skills Days – spaces available!
BASICS Scotland will be holding core skill days 14-16 October at the Stranraer Millennium Centre. With spaces across all three days still available, this is a fantastic opportunity to refresh or build confidence in managing primary care emergencies, trauma or paediatrics in practical, scenario-based learning.
Don’t miss out! To register for any of these events, contact courses@basics-scotland.org.uk
Please refer to the BASICS Scotland website for all course dates.
SCSCHF Update
Please refer to the SCSCHF website for all course dates.
DIHS Update
Please refer to DIHS website for all course dates.