THE CLINICAL SKILLS UNIT

Clinical skills units offer exciting and innovative ways of learning a bout clinical skills. Links between theoretical knowledge and clinical practice are appropriate for both undergraduate and postgraduate trai ning. Students and doctors can practice and acquire technical and exam ination skills in a standardised and protected environment without bei ng concerned about the distress such learning may cause real patients. Models and simulators used in skills units are being developed to kee p pace with demand, with a corresponding increase in standards of qual ity and durability. As undergraduate medical courses respond to the de mands of modern clinical practice the use of such facilities will incr ease. This paper describes the functions of skills units and provides practical examples of educational strategies in use.