An actor planted in the audience simulated a stroke during the launch of state-of-the-art technology which will allow healthcare students to be given the closest possible experience to real-life situations they may meet in clinical practice.

The cutting edge technology, delivered in partnership with interactive simulation company Gener8, will allow health and social care students to step into immersive scenarios including some they may not have experienced during their studying period.

Students at Oxford Brookes University taking part in the event were required to respond to the situation.

A projected background regularly changed throughout the simulation in order to represent the different locations through the patient’s journey.

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The demonstration was also an immersive experience, meaning that the audience could participate if they wished, by moving around the room to gain different perspectives on the scenes that were unfolding in front of them. 

Additionally, Virtual Reality headsets were showcased during the launch in front of a live audience at Oxford Brookes’ Marston Road campus.

These will assist nursing, midwifery and allied health and social care professional students to undertake assessments of virtual patients. 

The technology can simulate environments such as hospitals, patients’ own homes, GP surgeries and schools.  

Students will also have the opportunity to ask questions, have immediate debriefs and revisit situations following feedback.

The state-of-the-art teaching facilities were funded through a £2million grant from the Office for Students (OfS) announced last year.

The grant is also providing a new, immersive digital classroom area for engineering, computer science and cybersecurity students at Oxford Brookes University. 

Dr Clair Merriman, Head of Professional Practice Skills in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, said: “We are delighted to be able to launch this cutting edge technology at Oxford Brookes University, so that our students can have fantastic learning opportunities and enhance their interpersonal skills.

“This method of learning for our health and social care students gives them as close to real life experiences of dealing with clinical situations, all in a safe environment.”

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Professor Astrid Schloerscheidt, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Oxford Brookes, added: “This significant investment is helping us provide leading, modern, state-of-the-art facilities which complement and enhance our high quality teaching. 

“I am thrilled to see this immersive learning technology come to life and create a modern and thought provoking learning environment which will prepare students well for work in their professions.”