Multiple births research centre opens at Birmingham City University
Posted 21 September 2017 - 10:36
A multiple births research and training hub opens today in Birmingham.
The Elizabeth Bryan Multiple Births Centre at Birmingham City University is a joint venture between the university and the Multiple Births Foundation. It is named in memory of the charity's founder, consultant paediatrician Elizabeth Bryan, who died in 2008.
Research gap
The centre will provide training for healthcare professionals and work to develop health and social care services to meet the needs of families affected by multiple births. It will also aim to address the gap in research into the effects multiple birth has on families.
Some 11,073 women, or 16 in every 1,000 mothers giving birth in England and Wales in 2015 had a multiple birth, compared to 10 in every 1,000 in 1985.
The centre will be led by Multiple Births Foundation director and RCN fellow Jane Denton, and Birmingham City University nurse researcher Merryl Harvey.
Better care
RCN professional lead for midwifery and women’s health Carmel Bagness said: ‘There is limited research in this area but this centre is set to change that.
‘It will help nurses and other healthcare staff improve their awareness and their skills in this field, leading to significant improvements in care nationwide.’
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