Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Dinwoodie Assessment and Simulation Hub (DASH) has become the first NHS facility in the north of England to receive organisational accreditation from the Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH).
Based at Wansbeck General Hospital, DASH is a state-of-the-art simulation-based education centre that provides high-quality, multi-professional training to improve patient care and safety. The accreditation recognises DASH’s excellence in simulation delivery, workforce development, and commitment to best practice.
DASH offers a wide range of training opportunities, including:
- Basic clinical skills training
- High-fidelity team-based scenarios
- External bookings for simulation-based learning
DASH simulation centre manager Nichola Jenkins said :
“I am incredibly proud of the whole team and would like to thank everyone for all of their hard work.”
The facility includes simulation wards, debriefing rooms, clinical skills areas, and a suite of mannequins and task trainers. It supports both in-centre and in-situ simulation across the Trust.
With demand for simulation training growing, the DASH team has expanded to include faculty from diverse professional backgrounds, enabling broader support across clinical teams.
ASPiH is the UK’s leading body for simulation-based healthcare education. Accreditation confirms that DASH exceeds national benchmarks for quality, safety, and innovation in simulation practice.
The ASPiH panel also commented:
“We are delighted to recommend accreditation of DASH at Northumbria, and it was a pleasure to conduct the visit.
“The department is well established from a simulation perspective, with a clear focus on high-quality delivery. The department should be commended on their commitment to simulation.”
DASH is also set to expand to North Tyneside General Hospital, further strengthening Northumbria’s leadership in simulation-based training.
Image credit: Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT
