COVID-19: experience and development of simulation for training in a London District General Hospital

The world is facing an unprecedented crisis in the form of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Clinicians and their working environments are under considerable pressures that have not previously been encountered. Consequently, clinicians have had to change their practice significantly to enable safe care for their patients, whilst ensuring their own safety. The majority of COVID-19 simulation to date has been either virtual or in-situ, with the aim of training specific departments. With this in mind, as the Hillingdon Hospital Education Team, we developed a simulation that would provide generic training on COVID-19 for staff across our Trust in various departments and roles. Our aim was to teach staff how to manage patients whilst protecting themselves during this pandemic.