Arts to be further integrated into medical training

Arts-based training for healthcare professionals is being given a boost by a three-year research and development partnership programme that will lead to a series of bespoke courses across a range of clinical practices and settings, including emergency medicine and mental health. The project will be delivered for medical professionals at King’s Health Partners in London, supported by a £580k grant from the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, but the findings will be shared with medical and arts educationalists, policymakers and participatory artists across the UK, with the aim of establishing arts-based learning as a key methodology in the training of healthcare professionals.

The SaIL Centre, an interactive learning centre at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, is nationally recognised for simulation-based training which focuses on medical error and human factors, and non-technical skills to improve patient safety. To deliver the programme, it will be working in partnership with Clod Ensemble’s Performing Medicine programme of courses and workshops, which use arts methodologies to enhance training for doctors and nurses. Techniques found in the training will include movement and dance, which can be used to teach awareness of how body language impacts on patients and colleagues, and improvisation techniques, which can help trainees learn to respond quickly to difficult situations.

Peter Jaye, Director of SaIL Centre and Simulation Lead for King’s Health Partners said: “This innovative combination of the arts and medical simulation will allow us to develop interventions that directly improve patients quality of care. By integrating techniques used by the performing arts in our practice we will enhance both the patients and the care givers experience of care and compassion.” The mission of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity is to work as a catalyst for healthcare innovation. Nicola Crane said: “We help to broker partnerships and fund programmes that will innovate and challenge accepted ways of working… There is a clear sense of common purpose in this endeavour – not only to enhance care and compassion in healthcare professionals but also for healthcare professionals. We hope that the scale of the investment in this project will help develop a substantial body of work and continue to build an evidence base for the role of arts and culture within health education and training.”