Clinical Skills & Simulation

Our simulation centres develop thinking on immediate patient assessment and team dynamics. This integrated approach to learning makes use of high-fidelity manikins, augmented reality & fully simulated ward scenarios to provide students with exceptional learning experiences that ensure they are prepared for practice in a busy clinical environment.

Clinical Skills

Clinical Skills is where students are instructed on a range of clinical procedures throughout their learning. They are taught by clinical staff using simulated demonstrations and practice areas, before putting their skills to use practically whilst on clinical placement. 

The area is designed for students to practice in a safe and simulated environment before they are exposed to clinical spaces with real patients. All sessions are facilitated by a dedicated Clinical Skills support team who oversee sessions to ensure students are instructed in accordance with their existing knowledge and comfortable with any demonstrations.

The Learning Zone

The Learning Zone is a technology and resource environment designed to enhance students clinical learning skills. It allows students to increase their understanding of taught skills, and to take ownership of their own learning by repeated practice.

The Zone is open to all students from Year 2 onwards, and is free to book to practice clinical procedures and skills using the provided manikins and simulated patient setups.

Practical skills students can simulate in the Learning Zone include basic life support, urinalysis, catheterisation, otoscopy, peak flow & vital signs and more. 

Immersive Simulation

As part of the course, students are involved in immersive simulation to go alongside their existing clinical skills sessions. Immersive simulation takes the form of whole room situations with simulated patients and is detailed in the video below:


Immersive simulation allows for detailed feedback to be given in controlled environments about patient-doctor procedures, and exposes students to potentially difficult situations before they encounter them in real practice. 

This culminates in the Fifth Year of the course where students take part in FY1 PracTiSCE week: a week-long programme to preparing student doctors to step into their upcoming role as FY1 doctors. Student doctors follow three patients on their journey through an acute admission, dynamically evolving situations and working as part of a team. 

The week is designed to allow students to combine their technical and communication skills, their awareness of clinical human factors and their critical thinking and management skills. It makes use of a fully simulated clinical ward, real patients who are portrayed by actors and clinical tutors playing the roles of hospital support staff.