A SERIOUS road crash saw staff at the Great Western Hospital tested to the limit this week.

But the incident, on Monday, was merely a simulation arranged as part of a day-long activity giving schoolchildren experience of a day at the hospital.

Students from St John’s Marlborough spent the day walking in the shoes of staff for the simulation day, which aims to raise awareness of the different career options in healthcare and encourage local young people to consider healthcare when thinking about their future.

The 17 students were taking part in the exercise that will take them through a real life scenario of a patient’s journey following a crash.

Doctors, nurses, surgeons, therapists and anaesthetists from the hospital, as well as paramedics from South Western Ambulance Service, acted out a real-life scenario, with true to life simulation models and medical equipment.

The exercise also included a step-by-step role play of what would happen in real life, from assessment by an ambulance crew, the patient being transferred and assessed in the emergency department, being transferred to theatres and then onto a ward for recovery, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

The day runs alongside the trust’s Dare to Doctor and Dare to Nurse programmes, which invite older A-level students to shadow doctors and nurses on the wards, learn about basic clinical skills and gain support for medical school interviews.

Dr Michael Natarajan, a consultant anaesthetist who took part in the activity, said: “We wanted to give local students the chance to see the whole range healthcare professionals involved in providing care and the exciting career opportunities on offer.

“I hope that they enjoyed the day and think about healthcare as an option when they go on to choose their A-levels or further e ducation.

“Every student will leave the day with basic first aid lifesaving skills and I hope it will be a real eye opener into the exciting and rewarding career options available.”

The plan is to run more simulations days and invite young people from other local schools to take part in the coming year.