Clinical Skills at Foresterhill
History
The Clinical Skills Centre was created in 1997, following a bid to the Scottish Higher Education Council by Aberdeen University and the Robert Gordon University. This was in conjunction with Grampian University Hospital Trust. 
The unique partnership and funding arrangements surrounding the Grampian Clinical Skills centre ensured that it was available to both undergraduate and postgraduate health care professionals to attain and practice clinical skills in a safe non threatening environment.
Today
In 2009 the Clinical Skills Centre re-located to the Suttie Centre for Teaching and Learning in Healthcare, a state-of-the-art purpose built building set in the heart of the Foresterhill campus. In collaboration with NHS Grampian, the building is dedicated to medical education and clinical training.
Clinical experience is central to teaching and within weeks of starting the MBChB programme in Year 1, students will have increasing patient contact. Initial clinical teaching centres around communication, examination and clinical skills that are delivered within this non-threatening environment, away from the pressures and anxieties relating to actual patient contact.
A highly trained bank of simulated patients contribute much to student learning of communication skills, whilst clinical examination is practised with the help of a bank of Volunteer Patients, using simulated ward areas.
Classes in the use of basic examination equipment e.g. taking blood pressures, use of ophthalmoscopes and auriscopes, performing ECGs etc ensure students have a sound grasp of these skills prior to examining patients.
Further skills are taught using advanced patient simulators, such as "Harvey", "SimMan" and "CathSim". Practical skills, such as suturing, taking of blood, putting up intravenous drips etc are taught on a range of manikins and equipment.
For further information on where to find us and how to get in touch, please use the links located to the left.