Procurement of healthcare science equipment to support training

About the project

The Clinical Physiology teaching team within the School of Applied Sciences has an established reputation in delivering in-post training through the Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship. This includes three specialist areas – Cardiac Physiology, Respiratory and Sleep Physiology, and Neurophysiology.

In 2023, following a successful bid the team were awarded NHSE tenders to deliver three new in-post training courses. These were a PG Certificate in Sleep Medicine, a PG Certificate in Clinical Echocardiography, and a Graduate Diploma in Respiratory Science.

Following this, the College for Health, Science and Society was awarded further NHSE funding for equipment to support this training in courses such as these. We identified a range of modern technology to mimic or simulate the clinical environment. A dedicated training room was identified on Glenside Campus and new equipment and software were successfully onboarded ahead of the start of the 2023/24 teaching year.

The expansion of facilities has enabled us to design and deliver teaching sessions to develop practical and technical skills. Often trainees aren't exposed to the full range of technology within their departments. Exposure to a wider range of equipment helps to broaden their technical and practical skills and prepare them for future careers in healthcare science.

The simulation equipment purchased has enabled us to create realistic scenarios that mimic the challenges of a clinical environment. This provides exposure to the diverse range of patient cases that trainees may encounter during their subsequent careers. Examples of this are the use of the Spacelabs analysis system and suite of Philips Ultrasounds machines. Trainees in Cardiac Physiology and Clinical Echocardiography can now practice responding to different cardiac events using electrocardiography or cardiac imaging, enhancing their decision-making and critical thinking skills. Such exposure to realistic scenarios instils confidence in trainees. When faced with patients in clinical settings, they're better equipped to apply their knowledge and skills, having already navigated similar situations in a controlled, simulated environment.

A further significant advantage of having access to this equipment is that we can now embed OSCE-style assessments into our courses. Assessment of clinical competence has traditionally always been restricted to the workplace. Having the ability to embed structured clinical assessments into our courses ensures that the education we provide aligns to trainees' professional practice. This further ensures that graduates have the highest level of knowledge and skill in their specialist area. 

Meet the project team