title: The cost of local, multi-professional obstetric emergencies training.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aim to outline the annual cost of setting up and running a standard, local, multi-professional obstetric emergencies training course, PROMPT (PRactical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training), at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK - a unit caring for approximately 6500 births per year.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, micro-costing analysis was performed. Start-up costs included purchasing training mannequins and teaching props, printing of training materials and assembly of emergency boxes (real and training). The variable costs included administration time, room hire, additional printing and the cost of releasing all maternity staff in the unit, either as attendees or trainers. Potential, extra start-up costs for maternity units without established training were also included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The start-up costs were €5574 and the variable costs for 1 year were €143 232. The total cost of establishing and running training at Southmead for 1 year was €148 806. Releasing staff as attendees or trainers accounted for 89% of the total first year costs, and 92% of the variable costs. The cost of running training in a maternity unit with around 6500 births per year was approximately €23 000 per 1000 births for the first year and around €22 000 per 1000 births in subsequent years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cost of local, multi-professional obstetric emergencies training is not cheap, with staff costs potentially representing over 90% of the total expenditure. It is therefore vital that organizations consider the clinical effectiveness of local training packages before implementing them, to ensure the optimal allocation of finite healthcare budgets.
authors: The Chilterns, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK. christopher.yau@nbt.nhs.uk.
authors: Christopher W H
authors: CW
authors: Yau
authors: Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Pizzo
authors: Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Steve
authors: S
authors: Morris
authors: The Chilterns, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Odd
authors: The Chilterns, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.
authors: Cathy
authors: C
authors: Winter
authors: The Chilterns, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.
authors: Timothy J
authors: TJ
authors: Draycott
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004630:Emergencies / Q000191:economics; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000193:education*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Cost; emergency training; maternity care; multi-professional; obstetric; simulation; skills drills