Award Could Lead to Safer Delivery

A doctor at University Hospital of North Staffordshire is leading a team to develop a safer delivery device. Dr Khaled Ismail, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, and his team have designed a plastic adaptation of forceps that feed information directly to a computer. His Safeceps™ obstetric forceps device recently won an international Red Dot Award for designing a new piece of equipment.

Dr Ismail was part of the only British-based team to win recognition in the life science and medicine category. Dr Ismail said: "The hope is that Safeceps will replace the traditional forceps procedure, significantly improving its safety and success rate, hence the potential to reduce caesarean section rates. Patient safety is our absolute paramount objective and ensuring this is our greatest endeavour and goal. I'm hoping that we will transform an operation that relies very much on the individual performing it into a methodical and safe procedure."

Safeceps is a spin-out venture bringing together the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, University Hospital of North Staffordshire and Keele University. Dr Ismail said: "Over the past 18 months the team has been awarded numerous prizes. Our aim is to ensure women, not just in North Staffordshire, but around the world can give birth safely. Our device, which records information instantaneously on a near by laptop, means the team performing the delivery will be able to check exactly how the birth is proceeding. They will be able to measure the traction and compressive force exhorted on the babies head during delivery. I hope Safeceps will be able to make a real difference to the care new mothers and babies receive."