PIONEERING technology which could make births safer for mums and babies is being piloted at East Lancashire Hospitals ahead of a £6 million study.

Royal Blackburn Hospital central delivery suite is the first maternity unit in the country to use the INFANT (Intelligent Fetal AssessmeNT Monitoring) computer software.

The programme, which links to existing ‘Guardian’ monitoring systems, analyses the baby’s heart rate and other information collected from the mother and baby, in real-time.

It then gives traffic-light alerts to midwives and obstetricians if it detects any abnormality.

The hospital is testing and assessing the system before researchers at the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit’s clinical trials unit, based at Oxford University, embark on the UK’s largest-ever obstetrics trial, involving 46,000 mothers across 12 hospitals.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust consultant obstetrician Liz Martindale and consultant obstetrician and medical director Rineke Schram are leading the pilot.

Mrs Martindale said: “The system aims to reduce death and injury during birth and also reduce the need for surgical interventions by detecting problems as early as possible.

“If it is successful it could be a fantastic asset to the whole of the NHS.

“It is a real coup for us to be piloting the technology here at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.”

Almost 200 women have given their consent to take part in the study since it was launched in January.

Research midwife Josephine Holleran said: “It's very easy to use. The midwives have been really positive about it and they are really happy to be part of a pioneering piece of research.

Louise Jemson, 24, of Ratcliffe Street, Darwen, was monitored by INFANT when she gave birth to her fourth baby Leo yesterday morning.

The mum said both she and her partner Simon Lang, 34, were reassured that midwives used the software to check on her condition after she had problems with her pelvis during labour.

She said: “I delivered my baby in a birthing pool and they were able to use this new equipment. With this they know exactly what is going on.”