Inflatable operating theatre unveiled at STeLI conference

Those attending the London Deanery’s simulation conference on 1 March may have thought they’d wound up on the set of Casualty. A live demonstration of a new, inflatable operating theatre which recreates the complexity and intensity of real-life clinical events left even the actor playing the patient feeling like he was caught up in a real A&E crisis.

Left: an action shot from the demo of the Igloo. Right: the Igloo. Click image to enlarge

The portable operating theatre, known as the Igloo, which was developed by Imperial College in London, inflates in just three minutes.  Pictures, lighting and sound all help to make the environment within the Igloo realistic, enabling doctors to practice their clinical and team-working skills without any risk to patients.  Cameras capture the action so teams can review their performance and make improvements.

Whilst there is firm agreement that nothing replaces the need for clinically-based training, training using simulators is clearly emerging as an efficient and effective way to help doctors learn how to provide high quality, safe care.  Ian Curran, London Deanery Head of Innovation explains:

“Practice makes perfect and there is good evidence to show that simulation-based training works.  We are starting to understand how simulation can support doctors to develop their professional capability and capacity, so increasing their clinical effectiveness.  Doing the right thing first time is not just safer, it’s more cost-effective.  One of the reasons that simulation-based training is so valuable is because it takes the steepest part of a doctor’s learning curve away from the patient.”

The Igloo won the 2010 STeLI Excellence in Education Innovation Award and is just one example of how SteLI is developing world class simulation facilities in London.  Taking its lead from the aviation industry, STeLI is raising awareness of human-factors – how people interact with tasks, equipment and their environment – and promoting patient safety to make sure patients receive high quality care. 

London has invested £20m in simulation-based training over the last two and a half years.  The Deanery’s Simulation and Technology-enhanced Learning Initiative (STeLI) has supported resources into 89 different locations and STeLI simulation-based training is being fully integrated into specialty schools. 

London is leading the way nationally and internationally in this innovative and emerging field of healthcare education.

To see the presentation slides from the conference visit the STeLI site