New Best Practice - Newborn Metabolic Blood Spot Collection e-learning module

A new e-learning module Best Practice - Newborn Metabolic Blood Spot Collection has been released via Learn Online. This resource has been developed for midwives and other health professionals to support them in their role, particularly with the collection of blood spot samples. These are tested for rare but potentially serious disorders such as phenylketonuria (PKU), cystic fibrosis, and congenital hypothyroidism.

The success of the Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme depends on the diligence and dedication of many health professionals, particularly midwives.  They are responsible for the newborn metabolic screening process, including giving information and advice, offering screening, ensuring informed consent, documenting the process, taking a suitable sample and following up results.  The new learning module will support them to do this. In addition, the Antenatal and Newborn Screening team, in the NSU,  have updated three other elearning modules:

• Quality Improvements in Antenatal Screening for Down syndrome and other conditions (QIASD)
• Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Early Intervention Programme (UNHSEIP)
• Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme (NMSP)

These support a fifth module “Screening Principles and Practice”.

We encourage midwives and other health professionals to complete these updated modules, even if they have done them in the past. They are recognised by the Midwifery Council for continuing midwifery education hours.

Log onto Learn Online to access and complete the updated modules.