International Journal of Healthcare Simulation

Background and aim:

National Health Service England (NHSE) is committed to providing the highest quality, evidence-based and sustainable Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) to the workforce of tomorrow [1]. Over the past 20 years, simulation-based education (SBE) facilities have developed across many NHS trusts, universities, and training programmes using different models of delivery and funding to match their local needs. More recently, technological advances and a pandemic-driven need for remote and supplementary training experiences has expanded the remit of TEL.

Our objective was to complete a wide-ranging census to map simulation and immersive learning (SimImm) resources across an entire NHSE region and how these are delivered. Most importantly, we aim to gather stakeholder opinions on the perceived challenges faced by the SimImm community in the coming 3-5 years.

Methods:

In December 2022, we launched a multi-phased regional online survey of SimImm providers. Phase one distribution included members of the two regional simulation networks. Phase two was distributed to simulation leads for postgraduate schools, training programmes and higher education institutions. Throughout, other stakeholders in the SimImm community had the opportunity to complete the ‘future challenges’ section only.

Results:

35 organizations had completed the full census, with a further 47 stakeholders completing the ‘future challenges’ section. Of the full census, 14 were secondary care simulation centres, 18 training programmes and 3 universities. The most common resources used were High-fidelity simulation (n = 28), simulated patients (n = 21) and advanced part-task simulators (n = 20). 15 organizations were delivering extended reality (XR) resources, with 6 delivering cadaveric simulation. Only 47% reported representation on regional simulation networks. 61% exclusively used faculty employed within their own organization, with 54% delivering in-house faculty development programmes. Most funding for course set-up and maintenance was derived from NHSE (formally HEE) through direct funding or the learning contract (formally SIFT/tariff). 22% had funding from NHS trusts for course maintenance.

Thematic analysis of the ‘future challenges’ section, revealed 5 primary areas of perceived challenges: Faculty development, maintenance, and retention; resources funding; collaborative working; strategy and equitable opportunities and adoption of new technology.

Conclusion:

Provisional results already demonstrate a huge variety of resources which are distributed widely across the region. Many of these are not necessarily in contact with regional simulation networks, particularly individual training programmes. The stakeholder opinions collated through this exercise will form the bedrock on which regional SimImm strategy and decision-making can be based.

Ethics statement:

Authors confirm that all relevant ethical standards for research conduct and dissemination have been met. The submitting author confirms that relevant ethical approval was granted, if applicable.