We are the clinical skills and simulation team. We are a group of nurses and technologists. Our job is to provide you with clinical skills training (phlebotomy, catheterisation, oxygen therapy, etc), simulation training and to maintain the Siklos Centre (our combined clinical skills and simulation labs).
Meet the clinical skills unit team
After deciding that a career in IT (working on the construction site of Sizewell B Power station in the late 1980’s wasn’t for me!) I took a leap of faith and changed tack, completing my nurse training 1999 where I started working at the Ipswich Hospital. I moved to the West Suffolk Hospital in 2000 (with an initial plan to only stay perhaps 6 months) and have held a variety of roles working in both acute medical admissions and critical care outreach.
I was then lucky enough to be given the opportunity to work in the field of Medical Education and have stayed there ever since, albeit with some operational responsibilities which have run alongside. This has given me a wide-ranging appreciation of both the services available within both the hospital and NHS more generally. These included leading the Clinical Skills & Resuscitation Services, developing the WSH PICC service, managing a team of Hospital at Night practitioners and setting up the Siklos Centre here where you will be taught today.
My current responsibility is to ensure that the Siklos Centre and team of Clinical Skills Staff provide the very best facility where medical students and resident doctors can develop and grow professionally.
I joined the clinical skills team at West Suffolk Hospital (WSH) just over two years ago, having worked as a skills tutor supporting the Cambridge standard course students for ten years in Ipswich.
Prior to this I was a resuscitation officer. As a nurse I have always been lucky enough to work in areas that I love: coronary care, cardiothoracic nursing and emergency medicine. Being a skills tutor is a brilliant job – not only do I meet you when teaching skills and facilitating simulation, but I also get to work with you clinically to support you performing clinical skills in the workplace.
I’ve been working as a nurse in West Suffolk Hospital since 2004 after qualifying 2003. My background is in acute care, with a focus on acute surgery. You’ll meet me when we teach you your clinical skills and simulation. I will also be taking you into the clinical environment and supporting you in practice.
I currently work for the Critical Care Outreach Team two days a week supporting clinical staff managing unwell patients and emergencies around the hospital. I do this so you can have exposure to the hospital environment as soon as you start in CS1.
I love working at West Suffolk Hospital and I hope you will enjoy your time here too.
I’ve been working as a nurse in West Suffolk Hospital for 20 years with a brief bit of time working as a nurse in Australia. My background is in acute care with a focus on cardiology. You’ll meet me when we teach you your clinical skills and simulation and out and about in the clinical environment supporting you in practice. I currently work for the Critical Care Outreach Team 1 day a month supporting clinical staff managing unwell patient and emergencies around the hospital.
Outside of my job I enjoy gardening, walking, Lego, sleeping and walking my dog, George Michael.
I have held various roles within West Suffolk Hospital (WSH), from Switchboard and Information Technology to Human Resources. I joined the Clinical Skills Team at the end of 2024.
I will assist you when there are any technical issues or general queries and you may see me preparing the rooms or running our electronic manikins from behind the scenes.
Taking the Kaizen approach, I enjoy finding more efficient ways to work as a team, so I look forward to hearing your feedback.
To help you become a well-rounded, productive doctor we supplement your learning with some additional skill as well.
In addition to the practical skills, we support your learning with simulation. This can be high fidelity (realistic pressure, time span, situations) simulation or low fidelity (less realistic but more focused on process) simulation. We use a range of technology and media to facilitate this learning from manikins to actors.
This is an incredibly effective teaching method to help you translate the teaching you have received into real life situations. It is a supportive and safe environment where your learning is the focus. Our debriefs are collaborative with your peers, where we can demonstrate to you your achievements and tease out any additional methods or resources you could use to be well prepared for your future encounters in the clinical environment.
As well as our teaching, our team includes many experienced healthcare professionals. Some of us have work as West Suffolk Hospital for many years and we know the trust and the local area well. If you have any questions, queries or just want a chat you are welcome to come and find us. Even if you would just a quiet place to gather your thoughts and a cup of tea.
