Teamwork is fundamental to the safe delivery of patient care. Organisations should ensure, as far as possible, that theatre teams are consistent and coherent, familiar with the procedure and therefore able to provide a consistent standard of care safely and efficiently.38
Multidisciplinary theatre teams that work together should train together. Teams should undergo regular, multidisciplinary training that promotes teamwork, with a focus on human factors, effective communication and a flattened hierarchy in which supportive challenging is normalised for patient safety.3
When new members join teams, particular care should be taken to introduce them to the team and to support them both to integrate and work with the team and bring their fresh insights to the team.
Regular, simple, in situ, multidisciplinary team training should form part of everyday practice. As well as enabling the rehearsal of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for serious, complex and rare emergencies, of untoward events and new processes, such training can help to identify system process gaps, leading to longer term improvements in safety and efficiency.
Multidisciplinary teams should have regular, more in-depth simulation exercises, moving the focus to the understanding of human factors and effective communication.75
Simulation based learning techniques should be used to assist the department and organisation to identify areas of existing positive practice and areas requiring improvement, as well as supporting the development of technical and non-technical skills.76
Simple and more in-depth team training exercises should include structured feedback.76
The outcomes of these team training exercises should lead to change in practice where needed.76
The anaesthetic department should have a lead for multidisciplinary team training and simulation.76
The department should have access to the resources to support a comprehensive system of multidisciplinary team training in all clinical settings to achieve enhanced patient care.76
