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Individual Seminars or Lectures

"Technological advances mean that the screening tests available are more sophisticated, and the interpretation of results is quite complex. It is vitally important that midwives, nurses and doctors are able to talk to parents in a way which is understood, so that an informed decision can be made about their pregnancy"
(Vicki Allenach, Midwifery and Women’s Health Adviser, Royal College of Nursing, ARC Annual Review, 2000/2001).

Aims: Seminars or lectures can be from 30 minutes to two hours in length. They can be used as part of a study day or as part of an ongoing academic course; they can be a regular feature in a programme outline or a one-off event. ARC uses its specialist knowledge in all aspects of antenatal screening and care to give a lively and informative presentation.

"Couples who are faced with unexpected findings consistently say how important the initial communication was to them and that they would like sonographers to be honest and let them know what they see. It needs enormous sensitivity and skill for the sonographer to be open to such distress and yet still find the right words"
(Brien, J. & Fairbairn, I., Pregnancy & Abortion Counselling, London: Routledge, 1996).

Seminars and lectures include:

  • Current techniques in antenatal screening and testing
  • Counselling parents in screening and testing; presenting results; framing of risk; explaining statistical probability
  • Communication skills; breaking bad news; parental expectations
  • The decision-making process; informed consent; impossible choices
  • Managing a termination for fetal abnormality; issues of responsibility
  • Grief and bereavement; the special case of fetal abnormality
  • Follow-up care after termination for fetal abnormality; another pregnancy
  • Supporting parents who continue a pregnancy after diagnosis of fetal abnormality

In addition to the above topics, individual sessions can be arranged according to your requirements. Phone the ARC office to discuss your needs.

Suitable for: Doctors, midwives, sonographers, GPs, health visitors, or any health professional working within the area of antenatal screening, testing and aftercare.

Number of participants: Variable

Cost: Negotiable, however in the majority of cases academic fees apply.

Other Training

Booking Training

For more information or to book ARC training for your hospital email ARC's Training Coordinator or telephone 020 7631 0280.

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