Research Themes

The SUSTAIN living-lab is centred around simulation of surgical practice. Simulation provides a vital part in the development of effective team working, crisis management and non- technical skills, none less than in theatre. Huge amounts of work have been done to demonstrate the efficacy of these techniques to enhance team performance and improve patient safety outcomes.

SUSTAIN will also act as a high-class training centre allowing a standalone simulated theatre environment in which bespoke training can occur and advanced simulated scenarios run and monitored. Full theatre teams will be able to perform in a ‘real-life’ setting and effectively role-play acute and crisis management scenarios to perfect their technical and non-technical responses in this high fidelity environment.

The SUSTAIN theatre suite will offer the rare chance of a 'full dress rehearsal' for surgical teams at any experience level to plan procedures, hone techniques and identify potential risks in a controlled, yet realistic environment. Observers will be able to assess through one-way glass and review the attempts of colleagues to perform a variety of procedures using high-tech, anatomically accurate and reactive mannequins. Operated by technicians, a prescribed 'script' of timed events (e.g., bleed, BP change, cardiac arrest etc.) mirrors the real-life hazards and challenges clinicians face in theatre with every clinical decision, action and reaction recorded by cameras and microphones positioned throughout the theatre.