4th London Deanery simulation conference takes place.

Despite heavy snow London Deanery’s 4th simulation conference – ‘Checklists, Guidelines and Protocols – embedding patient safety’ – attracted almost 200 delegates on the 20th December 2010.

Key note speeches from the chair of Clinical Human Factors group, Martin Bromiley, and developer of the Swiss cheese model of organisational accidents, Professor James Reason, were delivered to a busy Royal College of Physicians.

Delegates were able to learn how other industries, such as airlines, Formula 1 motor racing, the military and NASA, use checklists and guidelines as well as simulation to develop high performing teams.

In contrast the popular break-out workshops showcased successful local-level initiatives and innovative concepts that offer a different approach to training.

The final afternoon session saw the announcement of the 3rd ‘Excellence in Education’ Innovation awards, this time with two new categories.

13 NHS London Trusts were, for the first time, awarded for their volume and diversity of the simulation-based training being delivered in the Commendations for Educational Productivity.

As part of a three round competition, trainees who had submitted ‘Innovation in Education’ proposals and then come into the Deanery to pitch to a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style panel found out which would be awarded project grants to pilot their ideas.  The judges awarded three prizes to:

• Mujtaba Husain, a ST4 in General Adult Psychiatry and Fellow in Medical Education at SLAM for his Inter-Professional e-Learning Modules on Self-Harm.
• Susie Lingwood, a Darzi fellow and ST6 in General Adult Psychiatry at Barnet Enfield and Haringey for her proposal around delivering medical leadership competencies and psychotherapy curriculum in core psychiatric training.
• Greg Scott, Roshan Vijayan and Jonathan Makanjuola at Imperial for their web-based platform for electronic prescribing training and human factors research.

The main ‘Excellence in Education’ Innovation awards once again received a large number of exciting entries.  Eventually, the reviewers awarded commendations to Guy’s and St Thomas’ and St George’s, runners-up prizes to King’s College London and St George’s and the final winner’s prize to UCLH for their After Action Review programme.

Speaking at the end of the conference the Dean for Educational Excellence and Lead for STeLI, Dr Ian Curran, said: “Despite the weather’s best efforts, this has been another great STeLI conference. World-class speakers kindly shared their considerable expertise and ideas and successfully challenged our excellent trainers to widen and reframe their thinking on professional training in London. It was an inspiration!”

For more information see the conference page.