A large-scale simulated road traffic accident (RTA), led by staff and students from the University of Nottingham's School of Health Sciences, has won a national award for delivering an exceptional student experience.
The mock road collision, which has just been held for the third year running this week, won the Best Student Experience Award at the Student Nursing Times Awards (SNTA) 2025. The exercise was designed to help students to better understand a patient's journey from road to hospital.
The exercise is a collaborative effort between the University, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue and the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS). It gives students studying nursing, midwifery, medicine and physiotherapy, the opportunity to see how emergency services professionals respond, make decisions and work together to handle a serious RTA.
The SNTA judges said of the exercise; "This nomination stood out for its clear alignment with the category's criteria, showcasing a deeply supportive and nurturing educational environment. The panel was inspired by the team's enthusiasm and passion for delivering an exceptional student experience. Particularly impressive were the robust evaluation method and the thoughtful plans for future development. A truly commendable effort."
Following the previous two successful exercises, a third was held on University Park earlier this week.
The RTA was set up as a road accident 'scene', with two crashed cars containing 'casualties'. The Fire Service attended the scene, assessed the casualties and then extracted them safely from the crashed cars, which included taking the roof off one of the cars. The Ambulance Service were then on hand to receive the casualties, assess them at the scene before transferring them into the ambulance for transport to hospital.
It has been fantastic to collaborate with our partners to deliver this highly realistic event. The collaboration with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue and EMAS has added huge value to our students learning, and offers a unique opportunity to understand how emergency services professionals handle complex situations. We are absolutely delighted that the judges recognised this initiative with the Best Student Experience award."
Nicola Stewart, Duty Commander in Nottinghamshire at EMAS said: "Exercises like this are vital for building confidence and capability in responding to challenging scenarios. It was a pleasure to work alongside our partner agencies and support the students taking part. A big thank you to the EMAS team members who contributed – we hope the experience was both enjoyable and valuable for everyone involved."
Jonathan Wilson, Station Manager of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "I am extremely proud of this event, and how it has taken off to be so much more than just an exercise.
"Not only does this simulation provide a platform for agencies to work together, but it also gives both emergency service personnel and students to put their skills to the test in real life scenarios.
"Winning this award highlights the amazing work that is constantly being done in and around Nottingham, all with the same mission to keep Nottinghamshire safe."
