Wales rugby star and Cardiff University medical student, Jamie Roberts has unveiled Cardiff University’s new state-of-the-art simulation equipment designed to help train the next generation of doctors.
The new child manikin – part of an expansion of Cardiff University’s School of Medicine’s growing simulation centre – can be programmed to behave just like a sick child, offering students the chance to deal with real life situations.
The plastic manikins can be programmed to mimic different medical situations including irregular heart beats, low blood pressure; they can even be made to be sick.
Officially unveiling the new facilities Jamie Roberts said: “As a medical student this new equipment will help my development and enables me to learn, rehearse and perfect procedures in treating sick patients.
“This new equipment is especially important as it mimics a child – some of the most difficult patients to treat when becoming a doctor.”
The equipment is part of an expansion of simulation centre available at Cardiff University’s School of Medicine. Future developments mean the opening in September 2011 of a whole floor of the latest equipment for Simulation Training: the Cochrane Building.
This prestigious development means that only the very best facilities will be available for the training of doctors in Wales.
In 2008 the Minister for Health, Edwina Hart opened the first phase of the University’s simulation equipment – an adult simulation centre allowing students to learn, rehearse and perfect procedures in treating sick adult patients, anaesthesia and intensive care.
Professor Judith Hall, School of Medicine, added: “This is an important development for undergraduate and postgraduate education at Cardiff and adds to our already impressive simulation equipment.
“With the development of the Children’s Hospital for Wales here in Cardiff, it is very important that our medical students train to look after sick babies and children.
“Using this infant manikin, they will train to recognise when a baby is sick, they will know when to call senior doctors for help and finally, they will know how to start emergency treatment.”
The equipment has been sponsored by Flexicare – a Welsh manufacturer and supplier of medical devices to the healthcare industry and medical organisations
