UHNM launch midwifery apprenticeship programme

The University Hospitals of North Midlands workforce is growing thanks to a new midwifery apprenticeship programme which will see a new cohort of midwives joining the Trust.

Five apprentices have been recruited who were already working for the Trust as care support workers and in administrative positions. The academic study of the programme will take place at Wolverhampton University and will run alongside the degree programme.

The apprentices will complete clinical placements at Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital alongside student midwives on the wards, in the community, on the maternity assessment unit, delivery suite and the midwife birth centre, with smaller placements in areas such as Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), early pregnancy unit and in obstetric theatres.

Anita Timmis, Clinical Placement Facilitator for Student Midwives, said: “We are so delighted to be able to offer a brand new alternative route into midwifery at UHNM with the new midwifery apprenticeship programme.

“This is really such an exciting time for us, firstly offering this amazing opportunity to members of support staff already working in maternity, but also to be working in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton.

“This is the first time student midwives have had the support of a maternity specific clinical placement facilitator and I feel privileged to have been offered the position to support, not only the new apprentices, but all of our student midwives. I want to make life in placement smoother and easier for students and midwives, and to be the link between University and placement.”