London Maternity Simulation Network

London Maternity Simulation Network
Name	London Maternity Simulation Network
Formation	2010s
Type	Professional network
Location	London, England
Region served	Greater London

London Maternity Simulation Network The London Maternity Simulation Network is a professional network connecting clinicians, educators, and researchers across NHS England, University College London, King's College London, Imperial College London and multiple hospital trusts to promote simulation-based training in obstetrics and midwifery. It brings together specialists from Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives, Health Education England, BMJ contributors and leaders from Great Ormond Street Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and St Thomas' Hospital to improve perinatal safety and teamwork. The network aligns with initiatives from NICE, Care Quality Commission and academic partners such as London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Overview

The network functions as a hub for clinicians from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Homerton University Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and Whittington Health to coordinate simulation curricula, promote standardisation of drills, and disseminate best practice. It links simulation educators affiliated with European Society of Anaesthesiology, Association of Anaesthetists, British Maternal and Fetal Medicine Society and leaders from Royal College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. Stakeholders include perinatal safety advocates, obstetricians who have worked with NHS Resolution, and midwives engaged with Maternity Action.

History and formation

The network emerged from collaborative efforts between clinicians involved in high-profile initiatives following perinatal safety reports by entities like NHS England and inquiries referencing trusts such as Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and recommendations echoed in parliamentary debates at Palace of Westminster. Founding contributors included consultants linked to Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, academics from King's College London School of Medicine, simulation leads from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and patient safety researchers associated with University of Oxford and University of Cambridge. Early meetings convened at venues including Royal Society lecture halls and were influenced by international models from Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network and simulation programmes at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Objectives and activities

Primary objectives include improving maternal and neonatal outcomes through simulation, reducing avoidable harm highlighted in reports by Care Quality Commission, and supporting workforce development promoted by Health Education England. Core activities involve organising multidisciplinary simulations that bring together teams from midwifery units across NHS Trusts, obstetricians linked to Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, anaesthetists affiliated with Royal College of Anaesthetists, and paediatricians from British Paediatric Association. The network runs conferences, workshops and quality improvement collaboratives modelled on initiatives by Institute for Healthcare Improvement and shares curricula that reference guidance from NICE and standards from UK Resuscitation Council.

Membership and governance

Membership spans clinicians from NHS Foundation Trusts, academics from University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and representatives of professional bodies such as Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Governance structures mirror frameworks used by Health Education England, with advisory input from patient representatives involved with Maternity Voices Partnership and oversight from leaders familiar with NHS England commissioning. Steering committees often include clinical leads who have presented at forums like Royal Society of Medicine and contributors to journals such as The Lancet and BMJ Quality & Safety.

Training programs and simulation facilities

Training programmes incorporate high-fidelity maternity scenarios used in centres including simulation suites at King's College Hospital, St Mary's Hospital, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital and University College Hospital. Courses range from obstetric emergency drills informed by Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommendations to perinatal team training influenced by methods used by Resuscitation Council UK and European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Facilities utilise manikins and task trainers adapted from manufacturers showcased at International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare and integrate debriefing techniques pioneered by educators affiliated with Ariadne Labs and Harvard Medical School simulation centres.

Research, evaluation, and impact

The network supports research collaborations with academic groups at King's College London, Imperial College London, University College London and Queen Mary University of London evaluating outcomes such as reductions in postpartum haemorrhage and rates of shoulder dystocia, and publishes findings in journals like BMJ, The Lancet, Anaesthesia and BJOG. Evaluation methods draw on quality improvement paradigms from Institute for Healthcare Improvement and statistical approaches common at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Impact includes reported improvements in team communication metrics similar to those documented by Cochrane reviews and contributions to guideline updates by NICE and professional colleges.

Partnerships and collaborations

Collaborators include NHS trusts such as Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and academic partners including King's College London, University College London and Imperial College London. The network engages with professional bodies like Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Anaesthetists and patient advocacy organisations such as Maternity Action and NCT (charity). International links extend to groups at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Harvard Medical School, University of Toronto and European consortia connected to European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Category:Medical and health organisations based in the United Kingdom