Trafford General Hospital - Life Support Doll

UPDATED:  This equipment was ordered in March 2008

The Neo Natal Unit at Trafford General Hospital treats 500 pre-term and sick babies each year.  Up to one in ten of all births at the hospital will need some form of specialist care in the early days and months of life.

The specialist nursing team require very detailed knowledge of neo-natal anatomy, and are required to update and refresh their training throughout their career. 

These training aids are used to educate medical and nursing staff in the art of resuscitation of the newborn.  They are life sized and add an extra dimension to training.

The baby trainer that is currently used has been on the ward for some years and is badly worn.  It doesn’t allow for ventilation training and can no longer be used to practice intubation because of damage.  Teaching with a mannequin that is faulty and old-fashioned limits the skills that staff can learn.  Having a new, fully functioning model will aid confidence and staff development, and thereby improve the care available to new-born babies.

Another crucial use for the mannequin is in training new parents to resuscitate their child after being discharged.  Premature babies are more at risk of cot death and serious respiratory difficulties.  It is common to give parents training to help the baby start breathing in an emergency.  At present the state of the mannequin means that some of the necessary skills cannot be practiced, and this can limit parents’ confidence when first taking their baby home.

The Life Support Baby Trainer will cost £1,934.00.  This includes the doll, a heart simulator and intubation trainer.  As a charity we are exempt from VAT.