The Department of Health and Social Care, working in partnership with Salford University Manchester, has for the first time offered training placements to student midwives.
 
The first cohort of student midwives from the UK started their three week training placement at the end of June, with a further cohort due to start in October. Two senior midwives at the Jane Crookall Maternity Unit at Noble’s Hospital have been on-hand throughout the students’ training placement to mentor and assess their progress.
 
Jane Sloane, Head of Midwifery at Noble’s Hospital said: “We have been working with Salford University’s Director of Midwifery, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Dr Lesley Choucri and the midwifery educationalists over recent months to enable student midwives to participate in a training placement here at Noble’s Hospital’s Jane Crookall Maternity Unit.
 
“We recently welcomed the first cohort to experience midwifery in ‘an Island setting’. The delivery of care at the Unit can differ slightly from that of a larger unit in a UK NHS hospital. Here we are fortunate to be able to work in a small team delivering high standard obstetric and midwifery care – ante natal care, childbirth and post natal care to the mother, baby and family – in the one location.
 
“The students have benefitted from a flexible approach to training and learning, being able to follow the family through to discharge into the community, learning new skills and taking an active role in the Unit, benefitting the staff and families with their knowledge.”
 
Karen Boylan, student midwife said: “My placement here at the Jane Crookall Maternity Unit has been a very interesting experience. I have had the opportunity to be involved in maternity care in an Island setting, in what is a much smaller unit compared to where I am currently training. I have been very impressed with the level of continuity of care the women on the Island receive.”
 
Carly Gunn-Anderson, student midwife said: “This training placement has enhanced my knowledge and skills, including visiting a new-born child in their family home setting. I hope to return for my elective placement in the future.”
 
Photo - from left to right Carly Gunn-Anderson - Student Midwife, Kirsty Stevenson - Mentor, Jane Sloane - Head of Midwifery, Anne Leyland - Tutor Salford University, Diane Rubery - Supervisor of Midwives, Karen Boylan - Student Midwife, Ann-Marie Steele - Mentor.