Development of Multi-Professional Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Cymru Learning Resources
Health Education and Improvement Wales and NHS Wales
Introduction:
The Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Cymru (NIPEC) identifies early health conditions in newborns, but a national scoping exercise revealed inconsistent training, poor access to resources, and variation in clinical practice across Wales. In response, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) aimed to develop standardised, high-quality, multi-professional NIPEC learning resources for implementation across all Health Boards by 2024.
Methods:
A multi-professional project team - including GPs, midwives, educators, nurses, and neonatologists - used Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to co-design a suite of educational tools. These included a NIPEC Handbook, e-learning module, peer review guidance, and annual competency framework. National collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and feedback were central to the development process. Materials were adapted from existing NHS England content and refined for the Welsh context.
Outcomes:
- 136 professionals completed the e-learning in its first year; 96% rated it as “useful” or “very useful.”
- Professionals reported improved confidence, updated clinical practices, and greater consistency in examination techniques.
- All seven Health Boards now promote the resources through Practice Development Midwives.
- A 2025 audit of GPs highlighted gaps in training and prompted national engagement efforts.
Learnings:
Key success factors included co-production, early stakeholder involvement, and iterative improvement. PDSA cycles enabled rapid testing and refinement. GP engagement could have been stronger from the start, and future developments will prioritise multimedia resources and earlier outreach to all professional groups.
What next?
Upcoming plans include developing full examination videos, condition-specific visuals, and audio clips for heart sounds. A national GP webinar and targeted communications campaign will further promote uptake. The model is scalable and transferable to other clinical areas requiring consistent national standards.
