Home / Health / UK Hospital Uses Dark-Skinned Manikin for Training
UK Hospital Uses Dark-Skinned Manikin for Training
5 Jun
Summary
- A UK hospital trust introduced a dark-skinned birthing manikin for training.
- This aims to improve care for Black women who face higher maternal mortality rates.
- The manikin helps staff recognize clinical signs on diverse skin tones.
A hospital trust in the UK has introduced a dark-skinned birthing manikin to improve training for healthcare professionals. Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust purchased the MamaAnne manikin, a maternal and birthing simulator, to enhance staff skills in dealing with emergencies affecting patients with dark skin tones.
This move addresses disparities in maternal care, as research indicates Black women are nearly four times more likely to die within six weeks of giving birth compared to white women. Specialist midwife Chloe Stevenson highlighted that using diverse skin tones in simulation training is crucial for cultural competence and recognizing signs of deterioration.
Simulation training lead Tracey Harrison emphasized that the manikin allows staff to identify subtle clinical signs like jaundice and rashes on darker skin, which is critical for safe patient care, especially in emergencies. The manikin also facilitates practice in recognizing contractions and hearing fetal heart sounds.
