Simulation centre lends itself as film set for Damilola Taylor-inspired film

Monday 7 January 2013


Scene from Damilola Taylor filming

The Simulation and Interactive Learning Centre (SaIL) at St Thomas’ Hospital, recently lent itself as a film set for a short film inspired by Damilola Taylor.

The film - What Could Have Been - is a moving story about a young Nigerian boy’s life ending before it even had a chance to start. It has been filmed, written, produced, and acted by young people in London through the Youth in London Partnership with the Damilola Taylor Trust.  

The film deals with real life situations people face everyday, it is a reminder to people that life is short and you should make the most of it in a positive way. In the film, the main star is stabbed and is rushed to hospital where medical staff battle to save him.

Much of the filming took place in the operating theatre area of the simulation centre - complete with blood pressure and heart rate monitors, syringes, and resuscitation equipment.

Beth Thomas, Outreach Programme Manager at the simulation centre, who oversaw the filming, said: “This was an exciting project to get involved in – we normally teach students and medical staff how to handle challenging real-life situations by recreating clinical scenarios – so this was certainly a change!

“Doctors and nurses from Guy’s and St Thomas’ gave up their spare time to help with the filming to make sure that the injuries the main star sustained were realistic, and the treatment he received when he came into our simulated hospital was accurate.”

Damilola’s father, Richard Taylor, said: “Damilola had dreams of becoming a Doctor, and this project, carried out by young people from the heart of Damilola’s community in Southwark, have done a magnificent job in bringing his dreams to life.”

Last updated: March 2022

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