Clinical Skills Managed Educational Network

It is a requirement for all trainees starting their first Anaesthetic attachment (including ACCS trainees from all parent specialties) to complete an Initial Assessment of Competency (IAC) at around 3 months. This includes the structured management of critical incidents and failed intubations demonstrated through simulation. 

All trainees starting their first anaesthetic attachment will be allocated a place onto one of the IAC skills days. These will take place at the end of September/start of November (for those starting in August) and end of April/start of May (for those starting in February) and be run over a full day at regional simulation hubs in the North, East, South East and West of Scotland. All participants are required to complete pre-learning in advance of the course, and more information on this is available at the bottom of the page. 

It should be noted this course has been run with final year ODP student participants, and the benefit gained from this interprofessional approach was evident in the feedback. It is anticipated that this course could incorporate ODPs or Anaesthesia Associates in the future, and links with training programmes and the National Academy will be developed in the coming months.

Course dates

Full academic year 2026/27 course dates to be confirmed

The undernoted 2026 dates are reserved for August 2026 starts and 2027 dates for February 2027 starts. 

All allocations are confirmed via college tutors. Thereafter, the CSMEN Medical Simulation Team will book all eligible trainees onto the agreed course dates and send a course invite email with further details.

Please refer to the eligibility and course allocation section for further information.

Programme pre-learning:

1. QRH scenario videos

Please watch these very short videos we have made especially for the IAC simulation day:

Structured approach to the management of high airway pressure video

Structured approach to the management of hypotension video

2. The Quick Reference Handbook

Please aim to be familiar with the ‘Key Basic Plan’ (page 5) and try to familiarise yourself with the guidelines for the ‘Unknowns’. We will be focusing primarily on these during the simulation day:

The Quick Reference Handbook (PDF)

3. Difficult Airway Society guidelines

You should be familiar with the DAS guideline for unanticipated failed intubation:

DAS intubation guidelines

4. Front of neck access video

Please watch this video demonstrating front of neck access. You should be familiar with this technique which we will be practicing on manikins in the course:

Front of neck access video (YouTube)

5. Adult advanced life support guidelines

You should be familiar with the up-to-date ALS guidelines:

Adult advanced life support guidelines (Resus.org.uk)

6. Other Resources

External links to other relevant videos that could be helpful for pre course preparation are:

Simulated anaesthetic scenario videos

Unrecognised oesophageal intubation resources