Innovative e-learning package launched for doctors and midwives

The NHS Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Programme (NIPE) has launched a state-of-the-art e-learning module. This new training resource forms a major part of the strategy for developing this examination into a world-class screening programme.

The module uses film clips and animations to illustrate best practice; it is free and easy to register and is short enough to be suitable for busy practitioners. The e-learning package is designed primarily for doctors and was developed with the assistance of leading neonatologists, midwives, ANNPs, GPs, and representatives of Royal College of General Practitioners and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.  

Dr David Elliman, co-editor of Health For All Children and Clinical Director of the NIPE programme, said: “We are delighted to present our new e-learning resource today.  We know that in the past training has varied in quality and this will be a vital tool in improving the consistency of training on the screening components of the newborn and infant physical examination.” 

Dr Simon Mitchell, Consultant Neonatologist Honorary Professor at the University of Salford said:

“There has been a real need to improve training for the physical examination and having used this new module I rate it extremely highly. Doctors will be more confident to deliver the examination having used it and the quality of the whole service, as well as the experience of parents, will improve”.

The NHS Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Programme (NIPE) offers parents of newborn babies in England the opportunity to have their child examined shortly after birth. The newborn physical examination is a holistic assessment of the health and wellbeing of the newborn baby. 

The baby is examined from top to toe by a qualified healthcare professional.  The examination is repeated at 6-8 weeks. This e-learning module covers the four screening aspects of the examination which are the heart, hips, eyes and testes.