Plymouth helps deliver Newborn Life Support to the United Arab Emirates

Last month, staff from Plymouth's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit travelled to the United Arab Emirates to help deliver the Newborn Life Support (NLS) course for the first time.

Dr John Madar, Consultant Neonatologist at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, led a team of UK Newborn Life Support instructors, on behalf of the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the European Resuscitation Council, which included Dr Rima Vaitkute, Consultant Neonatologist and R?is?n McKeon-Carter, Neonatal Service Line Clinical Director.

Over six days, the Derriford team helped deliver four NLS courses, creating 97 Newborn Life Support providers. Dr Madar also supported a two day instructor’s course, developing the first local faculty.

Dr Madar said: “Nurses, doctors and other health professionals from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Sudan and elsewhere worked together on improving the basic skills of thermal care, airway and breathing management, which will help to save lives.

“I have to pay tribute to the team who worked with me for their tireless efforts in teaching so well in unfamiliar surroundings with equipment that did not always perform as well as we might have wished.

“So many of the candidates achieved the desired standard, which reflects the dedication of everyone. The local team were very appreciative of the efforts and see this as the first step in their ambitions. We may yet return to continue the job next year.”

Newborn Life Support (NLS) course R?is?n said: “Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is very proud of Dr Madar’s work with the Resuscitation Council, as every midwife, nurse and doctor attending the delivery of a newborn baby needs to be confident and competent in newborn resuscitation and ensure that staff can offer life support.

“His involvement with newborn resuscitation, and the development of the NLS since it started in the UK in 1999 has seen huge advances in the safety and wellbeing of babies who are compromised at birth.”

Ann James, Chief Executive of Derriford Hospital, said: “This is really great work and is a brilliant example of our contribution to learning and development across the globe. What unites us all is trying to improve care.”