Robot patients aid doctor training at Forth Valley Royal Hospital
- Published
The robots display a range of problems including asthma, heart attacks and infections
Doctors and nurses at a new medical training centre are to use robot patients to hone their skills.
The Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert will use a family of seven special mannequins, including Stan, who can respond to anaesthetic gases.
Another robot simulator, Reg, has a heartbeat, can give blood and describe his symptoms.
He will train emergency doctors and nurses. There is also a baby, two children and a pregnant woman robot.
About 1,000 medical and clinical staff will attend training courses at the centre, near Falkirk, every year.
The staff will be filmed working with a robot dummy in a variety of scenarios and the video will be played back for evaluation.
Trainee anaesthetists will be able to practice on Stan, making sure they take into account factors such as height and weight, and whether the patient has a chronic condition such as asthma or diabetes.
Stan "responds" to questions to help the students reach the right conclusion.
Robot Reg will help medical students become confident in taking blood.
The real-life characteristics of the simulation extend to him moaning and opening and closing his eyes.
Dr Michael Moneypenny, director of the Scottish Clinical Simulation Centre, said: "The centre is unique in Scotland and we are focused on improving patient safety using simulation-based education."