Matthew Blow, who undertook work experience at King’s Health Partners in April, writes about his day with the ‘Hands Up For Health’ youth education scheme run by King’s Health Partners at the Simulation and Interactive Learning (SaIL) Centre at St Thomas’ Hospital:

I was unsure what to expect when I was invited to observe a day of the Hands Up for Health (HUfH) youth education scheme. The charity-funded outreach programme is run in part by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals who volunteer their free time to help out, and takes place in the Simulation and Interactive Learning (SaIL) Centre at St Thomas’ Hospital. It offers mixed-fidelity clinical simulation training in a hospital-like environment to young learners in Lambeth and Southwark. The aims of the scheme are to encourage and develop the future workforce by increasing enthusiasm and knowledge among young learners for science and health, to strengthen ‘life skills’ for  employability and promote positive health choices, and to  widen participation to healthcare careers.

On arrival, I was surprised to discover that I would not be taking a back-seat position and watching the training from a comfortable distance as I had first expected! Dressed in scrubs, I joined a small group of learners aged between 16 and 24 for the day’s training. Speaking to the others in my group it was clear that everyone had some interest in health or social care, but was unsure what life as a healthcare professional is really like or what kind of role they would like to pursue.

The day was split into several realistic medical scenarios. Any doubts I may have had as to the fidelity of these situations was instantly dispelled as I discovered just how lifelike the training manikins were - they could breathe and speak, their pupils could constrict and dilate in reaction to light, they could choke and have seizures, they could even sweat. I was glad to find that the scenarios we faced were not adulterated for a younger audience, but reflected those that may have been encountered by an actual healthcare professional - a drugs overdose, a stab victim and a home birth were amongst the scenarios featured. There was also the opportunity to learn and practise a broad range of (often quite advanced) clinical skills, from taking blood and stitching wounds to keyhole surgery and emergency life support.

The realistic nature of these cases made the training intense. A particularly memorable moment for me was during a trauma scenario, where a critically wounded patient demanded painkillers from a learner who played the part of a nurse. A doctor informed me that this had been included because patients in severe pain often react with anger as well as fear, and we were encouraged to speak to the patient to keep him calm.

These scenarios were interspersed with moving and often unsettling performances by actors which facilitated insightful discussions of topics ranging from the dangers of drugs to the sensitive issues of knife crime and sexual assault. I felt that the discussions were honest, non-judgemental and handled sensitively.

What struck me most about my experience was the selfless dedication of everybody involved with the scheme, from those involved in the technical side of simulation to the hardworking volunteers teaching the clinical skills. The steadfast commitment to reaching out to young people and giving them an idea of what it might be like to work in healthcare, as well as early intervention to prevent harm or illness in the future, was truly humbling.

Dr Beth Thomas, a co-ordinator of the scheme, told me: “Where opportunities for work experience and funding for health education and careers services in schools is limited, programmes like Hands Up for Health are vital to help young people make decisions about their future.”

Speaking to the learners after the training, a common response was that the intensity of the day had not only helped their learning but also facilitated a positive change in their outlook as well.

I can sincerely say that I hope to volunteer for the scheme in the future, and hope that it continues its noble work.

For more information about Hands Up for Health or to volunteer please email handsupforhealth@gstt.nhs.uk.

To keep up with latest news from the scheme please visit: www.facebook.com/handsupforhealthuk or www.twitter.com/HUfH_DrBeth.