Mannequins aid maternity training

The study showed complications were dramatically reduced

A new way of training staff using mannequins has dramatically reduced complications from childbirth, a study of maternity units has found.

The new method involves using an artificial mother and child and has proved so successful that it may be taken up in the United States.

The hospitals that took part in the study were in Taunton, Exeter, Truro, Southmead, Gloucester and Cheltenham.

A spokesman said staff had proved very good at managing the new techniques.

Jo Crofts of Southmead Hospital added: "What we were doing in the study was actually assessing people on a very difficult situation.

"People across the south west region were exceedingly good at managing the initial stages which normally work.

"But when it came to more difficult, internal manipulations, that's where the training's needed because you can't practise that in real life and you need to get it right at the time."