Developing an equipment library for clinical skills and simulation training

Abstract

This article describes the the development of a regional equipment library for clinical skills and simulation training. This was a project undertaken to address a reduction in the available funding for the purchasing of clinical skills equipment throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region. It was envisaged that utilizing regionally accessible equipment through the development of an equipment library could support clinical areas with no other means of acquiring the necessary equipment for training. A consultation exercise met with initial concerns around the cost of some of this equipment and who would be responsible for the repair, transportation costs and maintenance. A SWOT analysis identified how these concerns may be addressed and processes of developing a database, tracking usage and auditing of the service emerged.