Hospital welcomes new student midwives
Mid Argyll Hospital in Lochgilphead has opened its doors to student midwives on a new training programme.
Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) is working in partnership with the University of Highlands and Islands to help postgraduate registered nurses complete the new Shortened Midwifery Programme.
The course has been developed for Highlands and Islands registered nurses who will continue to work in the Highlands and Islands at the end of their midwifery studies.
The programme comprises 60 per cent practice and 40 per cent theory. All the nurses’ clinical practice placements are in urban, remote and rural island practice areas. The programme also focuses on flexible learning and combines innovative e-learning technologies.
Mid Argyll Hospital and Integrated Care Centre has welcomed Caitlin and Meghan Murray, student midwives, who are in there seventh week of the programme.
Caitlin said: ‘This has been a fantastic insight into midwifery practice in rural Argyll.’
Wendy Jessiman, lead midwife for education, University of the Highlands and Islands, said: ‘We are delighted midwives in the community maternity units in Argyll and Bute are supporting student midwives from the University of the Highlands and Islands. These placements provide our students with opportunities to experience the midwife’s role first hand in rural areas.’
There are 19 registered nurses completing the 20-month programme. The HSCP is delighted the initiative enables the registered nurses to train nearer their homes and hopes it will help with the recruitment of midwives in future.
Catriona Dreghorn, Argyll and Bute HSCP interim lead midwife, said: ‘The new programme is innovative and will significantly improve rural midwifery recruitment.
‘Our midwives have welcomed all the students to their placement and HSCP midwives are already involved in training and sharing their transferable skills and knowledge.’
Midwives have very diverse roles, and are usually the first and main contact for women during their pregnancy. They provide care to local women in the local maternity unit and at home, they attend births and cover antenatal and postnatal care until six weeks after birth. They also work closely with doctors, specialist nurses, social workers, health visitors and third sector organisations.