Clash of the Titans

Each and every year, approximately 1,200 babies are admitted to the Neonatal Centre at the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, some of whom are transferred to the Coombe from other hospitals around the country.  They are amongst the tiniest and sickest babies in Ireland and are cared for by a team of highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals. 

As a university teaching hospital, the Coombe has special responsibility for training Neonatologists, Paediatricians and Neonatal Nurses. 

Friends of the Coombe is committed to supporting excellence in the care of women and babies and we have a vision for transforming the way in which healthcare professionals develop and maintain critical clinical skills at the Coombe.

Paul is the world’s most advanced premature baby clinical skills simulator.  Measuring just 35 cm long and weighing less than 1,000g, he is the most accurate recreation of a preterm baby born in the 27thweek of pregnancy available today.

Paul will enable healthcare professionals to develop and maintain critical clinical skills in a ‘real life’ and ‘real time’ setting, providing doctors and neonatal nurses a safe and unique learning opportunity.

Paul is not like other clinical skills simulators.  He was developed by a team of experts in the fields of neonatology, software development, mechanical engineering, Hollywood special effects design and animatronics.  The result is a manikin that looks like, feels like and reacts like a real premature baby.  Because of this, Paul will completely change the training environment. 

Thanks to advances in obstetric and neonatal care, the number of critical care procedures that have to be carried out has decreased.  And, when they do occur, they are life or death situation which cannot easily be used as training opportunities. 

Like most things, the more you practice, the more experience you gain.  We want to provide the opportunity for healthcare professionals to develop and maintain critical clinical skills in a simulated environment.  This is why we are raising €75,000 to purchase the world’s most advanced premature baby simulator designed for realistic critical care training as we support excellence in the care of Ireland’s tiniest and sickest babies at the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital.