NHS Scotland Mobile Skills Unit takes training to Shetland

NHS Scotland Mobile Skills Unit takes training to Shetland

Over the past few weeks, the NHS Scotland mobile clinical skills unit has been touring Shetland, bringing hands-on training and simulation directly to communities across the isles.

The unit has a full range of state-of-the-art health care simulation equipment, this enables NHS staff and other emergency services, like the RNLI, coastguard, fire and police, to practise and improve their skills without needing to travel to the mainland.

Jimmy Johnstone, who’s been driving the skills unit for six years, explained the Shetland route and some of the unit’s benefits:

“We’re starting with two days in Brae, then two in Yell, then over to Unst. After that, back to the mainland for Aith and Lerwick. It’s great because NHS staff get to learn new stuff where they live instead of having to go to Glasgow or Edinburgh. We bring the training to them, so they don’t have to leave their families or jobs.”

It’s not just for NHS staff either, the unit is used for training with fire crews, first responders, coastguard teams, and more.

Tracy, a nurse/midwife from Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick who works part-time in resuscitation and education, talked about why the unit is so important:

“The skills unit brings training right to Shetland - not just for health workers, but also for other emergency teams. It’s brilliant to have this equipment locally. Everyone should come and learn something new.”

Hands-on learning across the isles

In Brae, around thirty enthusiastic schoolchildren took part in simulation activities like observing patients, calculating NEWS scores, resuscitating babies, and managing collapsed patients on the ward. They learned key skills such as basic life support (BLS), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrillator (AED) use.

Fire crews from Scalloway and Brae also had hands-on sessions, rescuing simulated casualties from a car and assessing a walking casualty.

Next, the Mobile Skills Unit moved on to Yell, where school pupils gained valuable knowledge on managing anaphylaxis, recognising ECG rhythms, and performing CPR.

High-tech learning on the move

Inside, the unit has a set of hi-tech mannequins, with pulse and other vital life signs. These can simulate a patient deteriorating and going into cardiac arrest. One person controls the scenario from behind a two-way window while others respond, practising clinical decisions and teamwork.

Tracy said:

“It’s a great way to learn. You can do full resuscitation drills, work as a team, and get hands-on experience saving a life, even if it’s just the mannequin!”

Inspiring the next generation

The visit also featured an escape room activity for local school pupils — a fun, interactive way to learn about clinical skills and NHS jobs. The students had a scenario where A&E was backed up with 24-hour waits and wards were short-staffed. They volunteered to help out, facing challenges like supporting busy maternity wards, performing CPR, and cross-matching blood in the lab.

Tracy said:

“It was brilliant to see the pupils step up. They showed initiative, worked well as a team, and really got stuck in, just like a real NHS shift!”

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