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The baby being used to train medics The baby being used to train medics
(2 days later)
By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC NewsBy Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News
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Baby Gertrude can move, breathe, cry, cough and gurgle, like a real nine-month-old.Baby Gertrude can move, breathe, cry, cough and gurgle, like a real nine-month-old.
Meet baby Gertrude.Meet baby Gertrude.
She has been seen by every junior doctor and nurse in paediatrics at St Mary's Hospital, London.She has been seen by every junior doctor and nurse in paediatrics at St Mary's Hospital, London.
She has had breathing difficulties, meningitis, malaria, head trauma and asthma.She has had breathing difficulties, meningitis, malaria, head trauma and asthma.
Thankfully baby Gertrude is not real, but a simulated nine-month-old baby used to train medical staff how to deal with a seriously ill baby.Thankfully baby Gertrude is not real, but a simulated nine-month-old baby used to train medical staff how to deal with a seriously ill baby.
The clever simulation can run a series of conditions to train staff.The clever simulation can run a series of conditions to train staff.
Baby Gertrude can move, breathe, cry, cough or gurgle.Baby Gertrude can move, breathe, cry, cough or gurgle.
Her skin colour can change to blue and even her fontanelle (the soft spot on a baby's head) can bulge and go tense to simulate meningitis.Her skin colour can change to blue and even her fontanelle (the soft spot on a baby's head) can bulge and go tense to simulate meningitis.
Collecting dataCollecting data
In the three years since the mobile unit was introduced at St Mary's, which is part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and Dr Claudine de Munter, who has co-ordinated the programme, believes is starting to show promising results.In the three years since the mobile unit was introduced at St Mary's, which is part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and Dr Claudine de Munter, who has co-ordinated the programme, believes is starting to show promising results.
She now wants to see the system become compulsory.She now wants to see the system become compulsory.
Diagnosing a problemDiagnosing a problem
"Historically, simulators have been used in the airline industry and we know there are lots of benefits."Historically, simulators have been used in the airline industry and we know there are lots of benefits.
"If this type of training is compulsory for pilots, then it ought to be so in paediatric medicine, where the first hour of care is critical.""If this type of training is compulsory for pilots, then it ought to be so in paediatric medicine, where the first hour of care is critical."
When the system was first introduced in 2005 just nine junior doctors were trained once a month, in the simulation centre.When the system was first introduced in 2005 just nine junior doctors were trained once a month, in the simulation centre.
By 2007 this had risen to 38. Simulations were done weekly on the paediatric wards, or in Accident and Emergency.By 2007 this had risen to 38. Simulations were done weekly on the paediatric wards, or in Accident and Emergency.
Dr de Munter said that while other hospitals had simulation units, few had baby models - and that the real difference was the system's mobility.Dr de Munter said that while other hospitals had simulation units, few had baby models - and that the real difference was the system's mobility.
"Training happens on the wards and not in a simulation suite."Training happens on the wards and not in a simulation suite.
"I bring the simulator to places where people actually work, so the situations are immediate and in context.""I bring the simulator to places where people actually work, so the situations are immediate and in context."
Blue in the faceBlue in the face
Each training session takes 40 minutes.Each training session takes 40 minutes.
When we went to see baby Gertrude she was in the paediatric intensive care unit and her bed was the epicentre of activity.When we went to see baby Gertrude she was in the paediatric intensive care unit and her bed was the epicentre of activity.
Machines were beeping frantically, and doctors were huddled round her bed testing her responses and trying to work out what was wrong.Machines were beeping frantically, and doctors were huddled round her bed testing her responses and trying to work out what was wrong.
Her breathing was laboured and her skin looked blueHer breathing was laboured and her skin looked blue
Paediatric registrar Dr Siri Gautam said it was this sort of realism that makes the training so vital.Paediatric registrar Dr Siri Gautam said it was this sort of realism that makes the training so vital.
"It more real and the pressures it puts upon you."It more real and the pressures it puts upon you.
"It improves how you do things in a real situation because all the monitors are there and you can see the baby respond in the correct manner."It improves how you do things in a real situation because all the monitors are there and you can see the baby respond in the correct manner.
"You can put fluids into the child and the monitors respond as if it is really happening, rather than a mannequin that has no responses. When you give drugs things change."You can put fluids into the child and the monitors respond as if it is really happening, rather than a mannequin that has no responses. When you give drugs things change.