Research Set to Shine
Doctors at University Hospital have teamed up with academics at Keele University and Staffordshire University to reduce illness and disease amongst new mums. The five strong team have won a Shine award from The Health Foundation to improve knowledge and teach new skills to tackle illnesses experienced during maternity care. The award includes 75,000 pounds to research new approaches to deliver healthcare in North Staffordshire.
The main aim of this project is to develop and validate a multidisciplinary web-based e-learning package to enhance practitioners' knowledge and skills in perineal assessment, repair and management in order to reduce associated morbidity and improve women's experiences of maternity care. Dr.Mohamed Abdel-Maguid of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technology (FCET) at Staffordshire University is leading the ICT research and development for the project.
Dr Khaled Ismail, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, is delighted that he and colleague Prof Christine Kettle will be able to help new mums. He said: "The delivery of an up to date evidence based training programme has the potential to considerably improve the quality care provided for women who sustain perineal trauma and reduce the risk of postnatal complications".
Dr Darren Clement, research and development manager, said: "This is another fantastic piece of news for medical research in North Staffordshire. In the last six months we have attracted a lot of funding for research in the area. Research opportunities are very important because they attract some of the very best doctors to the area, which can only be good for patients. What we mustn’t forget is that this research will ultimately help our future patients."
The Health Foundation's Shine award will help all levels within healthcare to develop technical skills, leadership and knowledge. Jo Bibby, of the Health Foundation, said: "We are delighted to be giving the Shine award to Dr Khaled Ismail and Professor Kettle for their innovative ideas. Shine will help them to take a step back from their day-to-day activities to test their ideas, establish the evidence base for their innovative service improvements and encourage others to adopt the ideas."
Pictured from left to right:
Dr John Belcher BSc, Mphil, PhD, Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics, Primary Care Sciences, Keele University
Claire Rowley RGN, RM, BSc Women's Health, Cert.Gynae, NNC, Research Midwife, University Hospital of North Staffordshire
Dr.Khaled M.K.IsmailMSC, MD, PhD, FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, UHNS, Senior Lecturer Keele University Medical School
Professor Christine Kettle SRN, SCM, Dip.Mid, PhD, Professor of Women's Health, UHNS and Staffordshire University
Dr Mohamed Abdel-Maguid BEng (Hons), MSc, PhD, MIET, CCAI, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technology, Staffordshire University