Spotlight on - North Tees & Hartlepool University Hospitals

Livestreaming technology opens hospital theatres up to aspiring midwives

Student midwives and resident doctors are benefitting from livestreaming technology as part of their training to get a real time glimpse into caesarean section (C-section) surgery. North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust first implemented livestreamed training in January 2023 to showcase hip and knee replacements. Since then, the award-winning venture has been rolled out to maternity to give students an insight into C-section operations.

The training involves a surgeon wearing a camera and microphone headset during a real C-section to livestream to around 30 students in an education room. With a point-of-view camera and precision zoom, students see exactly what the surgeon sees. The microphone offers two-way communication, allowing students to ask questions and the surgeon to answer in real-time as they perform the operation.

The use of this technology has opened surgical training up to a wider audience, where previously only one student at a time could attend theatres for training. Participants in C-section training include student midwives, student nurses, resident doctors and physician associates.

Midwife-turned-clinical educator Hannah Cussons is involved in organising the training, with support from consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology. She said: “I remember being a student midwife and I never, ever got up close and personal to that theatre table.

“I was a midwife for 13 years and I’d never seen a C-section so closely until we ran the pilot for this training.

“You can see it all so clearly and ask questions all the way through which really helps to put your theory into practice. It’s a great introduction to surgery, is a much more comfortable environment and takes away that anxiety of being in a theatre. It’s giving students those fundamentals in surgery.”

The trust has so far seen around 100 students take on this livestreamed C-section training.

Students also take part in a surgery brief and debrief to learn more around the need for surgery and the role they play in caring for patients. This allows for a greater understanding in how different disciplines work together to support patients before, during and after a C-section.

36-year-old Paul Hogan is a third year medical student at Newcastle University. He recently took part in the training while on placement at the University Hospital of North Tees.

He said: “l love to be in theatre and either observing or even assisting if possible. However, there is very much a feeling of pressure not to be in the way and not to disturb anyone's concentration with questions.

“With this training, there's a lot less pressure. There was a clinician who was dedicated to ensuring that we got a good view and were kept informed about exactly what was happening and when. You feel much more open to asking questions and you still have a line of communication into the theatre.

“We felt fully involved in the process and guided through the procedure without having to be in the theatre itself.”

The training relies on volunteer patients who consent to having their procedure livestreamed. Anonymity is ensured throughout.

Hannah said: “It’s amazing how many patients are happy to be involved and help with the education side of things. Everyone I’ve sat down with and talked to about it has said yes.

“They’re really instrumental in helping us train the next generation of healthcare workers and I can’t thank them enough for that.”

The implementation of this training was recognised with a NHS England ‘Enabling Effective Learning Environment Digital Placement of the Year’ award in November 2023.