Delayed airway management was identified in 70% (9 of 13) of Insitu simulation (ISS) with an average time of 3.42 minutes from identification of the problem to management. The resuscitation council UK suggest that in most patients presenting with a compromised airway, simple actions are sufficient to stabilize them, failing to do so increases the risk of hypoxia and multi-organ failure [1]. To address this trust wide training was initiated through the ‘skills2u’ programme, where toolbox teaching was taken to the wards.

Across a two-week period, a multiprofessional team comprising of the simulation faculty, anaesthetists, and advanced clinical practitioners, visited all clinical areas and delivered a short 10–15-minute practical ward-based interactive session to the interprofessional team. The session covered airway assessment, airway opening manoeuvres and opportunity to practice inserting basic airway adjuncts.

412 clinical staff, of all grades and disciplines, were taught in basic airway management of the deteriorating and arrested patient. Evaluation of the teaching revealed 95.5% of staff agreed it was relevant to their role and 98% agreed they now felt better prepared to respond to changes in a patient’s condition. In the subsequent three months, technical skills performance errors for airway management were identified in 15% of 10 ISS completed. In these simulations the average time taken to manage the airway from identification of the problem reduced to 1.39 minutes.

Using ISS to identify technical skills performance errors followed by a trust wide ward-based education programme is an effective way to enhance patient safety.

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