Opening of Cuschieri skills centre

A £1m simulated operating theatre named after Professor Sir Alfred Cuschieri has opened at the surgical skills units at Ninewells hospital, and could help reduce the number of fatal mistakes made by aspiring surgeons and doctors every year.

The Cuschieri Skills Centre will be one of the most innovative research and training facilities in Europe, teaching anatomy and minimal invasive surgery to budding surgeons from home and abroad.

Since the surgical skills unit opened in 1988 it has been extended twice, with this third extension completing the range of training facilities. The new centre will combine the new anatomical/theatre skills unit with the surgical skills unit that was opened in 1992.

Graduates and undergraduates will train on either animal tissue that has been rebuilt to simulate human tissue, or on synthetic tissue. However, with the current revision of the Anatomy Act, it is hoped that trainees will be able to use donated cadavers in the future.

According to Professor Cuschieri such training is vital to help future doctors and surgeons avoid surgical errors that could lead to the death of patients. He believes that the centre is needed because clinical apprenticeships are no longer sufficient.

Ann Markham, chairwoman of NHS Education for Scotland, and Scottish Health Minister Andy Kerr attended the opening of the new centre, along with Principal Sir Alan Langlands.