The Royal Oldham Hospital, Simulation and Clinical Skills Centre

This new unit, named the Dinwoodie Centre, in the grounds of The Royal Oldham Hospital opened for use in February 2017.  The project was a finalist for the inAVate awards Most Innovative Education Facility.

The new centre includes a two bay simulation ward, a one bay simulated acute setting, a large clinical skills room and two clinical training rooms. This wide variety of clinical settings means that all healthcare professionals, from all disciplines, can access hands-on training in an environment that reflects their clinical practice.

The refurbishment includes a new basement steam to water heating and hot water plate exchanger system to serve the new and existing facility.

The simulation suites have been provided with simulated medical gases which consist of a six gas terminal outlet facility. Actually delivering a compressed air supply rather than the actual gases, this gives the illusion of the gases working without the added cost or safety requirements of using the real gases.

Mechanical ventilation was provided with local quiet running ceiling mounted units. These units provide sufficient fresh air during group sessions and are also complete with CO2 detection and a boost facility.

New energy efficient LED recessed lighting was installed to replace old fluorescent lighting with added energy saving controls.

The simulation suites recreate a typical ward / bed layout including medical trunking, patient and nurse call alarms. The data and power installation was rewired with a new data cabinet and distribution switchgear. A complete new audio visual installation was included with a control room and de-briefing room for each simulation suite, which allows video, audio and simulation scenes to be set and reviewed.

The existing fire alarm and intruder alarm systems were upgraded with an autodialled link to the main hospital.

The photos were provided by the AV Designer on this project, Pure AV.