13/09/2017

Queen's Uni To Be First In UK To Use New Birthing Simulator

Queen's University in Belfast is to be the first in the UK to use a new birthing simulator to train midwives.

The birthing simulator, known as Sono Sim, presents like a real pregnant mother complete with internal organs. The simulator or mannequin can be linked to a scanner that is programmed with a choice of hundreds of scans representing scenarios that a pregnant mother and her baby may face from early stages of pregnancy through to birth.

Professor Donna Fitzsimons, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: "Queen's has been leading the way for over 10 years in the development of Human Patient Simulation within healthcare. We are delighted to be the first University in the UK to introduce the new Sono Sim simulator, which will revolutionise the education of our midwifery students."

Students will be presented with a number of real-life scenarios. The mannequin will be linked to a scanner, enabling students to date the birth in the early stages of pregnancy right through to detecting a number of foetal abnormalities at the 20 weeks scan.

The mannequin will also mimic the birthing process, presenting a number of labour-related scenarios that midwives may deal with such as a postpartum haemorrhage before a mannequin baby is presented.

(CD/JP)

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