Covid-19: using simulation and technology-enhanced learning to negotiate and adapt to the ongoing challenges in UK healthcare education

Covid-19 has changed the way we live, move and connect in the UK and this includes education settings. There are only four reasons that the government advises people to currently leave home. These are: - Shopping for essential food or medicine. - Exercise or walking a pet but only with members of one’s own household. - Medical appointments or as a carer for a vulnerable person. - Travel to and from work, if unable to work from home. - At all times people must follow social distancing rules when outside the home, so must remain at least 2 m apart, except when with those in the same household. This presents a unique challenge generally, but especially in healthcare educational institutions and settings across the country. This is particularly true for universities that provide healthcare-related courses, who traditionally gather learners together in face-to-face settings to practise skills and simulation learning. This current crisis, therefore, presents three main challenges: - How do we continue to provide a positive learning experience and sense of community for learners, when they are unable to leave their homes? - How do we support teaching staff to continue supporting learners in these challenging times, when they may not have the experience or knowledge to teach wholly online? - How do we ensure minimal disruption to both teacher and learner mental health and well-being and promote resilience?