Gary Jordan and colleagues describe how a programme that gives staff realistic learning experiences was developed to improve patient care

The management of physical comorbidities in people with severe mental illnesses can be complicated by a lack of confidence on the part of clinical staff who may have had inadequate training in these aspects of care. Recognising this, Health Education Yorkshire and the Humber tasked a group of clinical skills project workers to explore ways of addressing this deficit. Their remit was to improve the situation through training and education, with particular emphasis on development of simulation-based education for interprofessional groups and subsequent debrief. A unique simulation programme was developed to look at the recognition and assessment of medical problems in psychiatric settings, and to suggest ways in which other regions and disciplines might wish to use or extend this model. The ultimate value of the project will be demonstrated by improved patient outcomes, such as experience of health care and reduced morbidity and mortality.