Maternity Training SimMom For Sunderland
Two innovative birthing simulators will shortly be giving hospital staff and medical and midwifery students from across the region, the opportunity to participate in additional specialist training thanks to a US$50,000 grant from global healthcare company, MSD, secured by Mother and Baby charity, ‘Baby Lifeline’.
‘SimMom’ is an advanced full-body interactive birthing simulator with accurate anatomy and functionality, allowing high quality team training in rare emergencies that can occur during childbirth.
Bringing together multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals in a simulation environment, allows rehearsal of emergency critical incidents. Simulation training is unique in its ability to deliver effective team training in a safe environment. Early recognition of birth complications, correct diagnosis and rapid, coordinated action from the delivery team can be perfected, leading to better outcomes in the real labour ward environment.
A ‘PROMPT’ pelvic manikin is also included with the equipment. This will allow health professionals to practice assisted births, again helping to make delivery safer for mother and baby. Working collaboratively with the University of Sunderland, these advanced simulators will be sited in the new hi-fidelity ‘Simulation Centre’ at the University.
Judy Ledger – Founder of Baby Lifeline says:
“Baby Lifeline’s mission is to ensure the healthiest outcome possible from pregnancy and birth. Specific multidisciplinary professional training is a priority to ensure this, and to improve safety for mothers and their unborn and new born babies. We were delighted to have received such a generous award for the North East regional maternity services, which will make such an impact in this way, and across such a large clinical area. More than 80% of critical events leading to poor outcome during labour are caused by human factors errors. Simulation training can significantly reduce this type of error.”
Mr Kim Hinshaw, leading the initiative, is a Consultant Obstetrician and Director of Research & Innovation at City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, and an Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Sunderland. He said:
“We are extremely grateful to MSD for this funding to Baby Lifeline, and to Baby Lifeline for submitting the bid and deciding to base the equipment in Northeast England.
“While most babies are born without difficulty, every labour is different and should problems arise, we need our staff to react quickly and effectively, and this equipment enables us to rehearse many obstetric emergencies in a controlled setting. As well as learning technical skills, it will provide important learning in areas such as communication, decision-making, team working and leadership.”
Martin Inskip, Senior Director of Operations at MSD in Cramlington, said:
“I am delighted that we have been able to support Baby Lifeline with this grant and it’s great to see the training equipment that will help improve the safety of mothers and their babies during childbirth.”
The teams at City Hospitals Sunderland and the University will be working closely to set up and evaluate this training over the next 12 months.
Sue Brent, Health Team Leader in the University of Sunderland's Department of Pharmacy, Health and Wellbeing, says:
"This is an exciting collaboration and a unique opportunity for us to develop education across the region using ‘SimMom’. It's also a central part of our innovative and highly developed simulation suite in the new integrated Living Lab in our Sciences Complex, which is about creating care pathways for patients.”
Professor Drife confirms the importance of this type of training:
“A well-trained multidisciplinary team is essential for the safety of mother and baby when an emergency occurs during childbirth. I'm delighted that Sunderland Royal Hospital and the University of Sunderland are collaborating in this project, which will enhance state-of-the-art team training across the North East."