Immersive simulator gives hands-on experience

A high-tech training simulator visited Royal Brompton to give staff and local schoolchildren hands-on experience of one of the highly specialist services it delivers for patients.

Local school pupils, charity supporters, and specialist NHS staff from across the Trust and London used the mobile ‘ECMO’ unit to explore and rehearse complex lung care in an immersive setting. Ex-patients also visited to understand more about the life-saving treatment they had been given.

Royal Brompton, Harefield and St Thomas are among the key centres in the country that provide ECMO – extracorporeal membrane oxygenation – where the body’s blood is recirculated through a machine to ensure it gets enough oxygen, when the lungs are no longer able to work properly.  The highly specialist service was especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former ECMO patient Jeremy (pictured above), who visited the simulator, said: “It was both wonderful and emotional to return to the Brompton again and meet some of the doctors and nurses who cared for me and understand the extraordinary work they were doing to save my life.”

The ‘ECMObile’ simulator, created by ECMO equipment manufacturers Medtronic, came to Royal Brompton in June to train over 120 staff from Harefield, St Thomas’ and Royal Brompton. Five referral teams from across London and the Home Counties also attended to build their understanding of the service.

Multidisciplinary teams deliver ECMO, and the simulation training supported intensive care doctors, anaesthetists, perfusionists, nurses and allied health professionals. Patients are referred through a coordinated national system, helping teams discuss cases early.

“The ECMObile has enabled hand-on training for clinicians across the ECMO pathway while increasing awareness to support the highest standards of care,” said Dr Brijesh Patel consultant and ECMO academic lead at Royal Brompton. 

“It’s really supported learning and collaboration and sharing expertise across our teams,” added Rosie Cervera Jackson, Lead Nurse for Critical Care Education and Development at Royal Brompton.

Senior airline pilot Andrew Robins also visited the simulator, to contribute to a human factors session that focussed on how people perform in high-pressure clinical environments.

“Medicine and aviation have huge similarities, we’re all highly trained professionals operating to the highest stakes,” said Andrew, of WingFactors, the education and consultancy company that brings flight deck safety culture to clinical teams training.

As well as clinicians and patients, ECMObile was visited by two schools from Royal Brompton’s local area – All Saints, and London Oratory.

The whole project was also supported by the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals charity, who used the opportunity to bring local supporters to the hospital.

“We were delighted to help create this special day, bringing together patients, families, schools and our local community. It really highlighted the importance of innovation, education and collaboration in caring for critically ill patients, and for improving outcomes for heart and lung patients in the future" said Catherine Sykes, Director of Fundraising & Marketing.