Former football star Bob Wilson will unveil a life-like human baby today which medical students at the University of Hertfordshire will use to simulate surgery on babies.

The electronic SimBaby performs many of the functions of a human baby, mimicking its breathing, pulses, chest rises, gastric sounds and even it’s crying.

Students can use it to simulate diseases, stabilizing its condition and injecting drugs into wire veins, to prepare them for working with real babies.

Mr. Wilson, whose daughter Anna died in 1998 after a long battle with cancer, is calling for extra funding for the SimBaby technology.

He said: "I have been there, seen it and seen the way it works.

"These facilities are essential. In extreme emergencies when a patient's body is under huge medical stress time is of the essence. The experience of having worked on SimBaby shortcuts difficult decisions and provides a confidence only experience can bring."

The university's Intensive Care and Emergency Simulation Centre acquired the SimBaby from international medical training equipment manufacturer Laerdal.

The facility already has two SimMan models, SimMidwife and SimChild, used to train healthcare professionals before they practice on humans.

Professor Eeva Leinonen, pro vice-chancellor at the university, said: "Babies are very delicate and it is essential for students to become skilled on patient simulators before being let loose on humans. It is obligatory for flight crew deck managing modern aircraft to undergo simulation training before flying a plane; we need to ensure that the same rules apply to healthcare students."

The Sim manikins will move to the new Health and Human Sciences Research building when it opens in January 2007.

The university hopes to raise £4m to build and equip the new building and is looking for donors to support the development.

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