School students from Hull and the East Riding and Northern Lincolnshire will be given a unique insight into careers in midwifery next month.
NHS Humber Health Partnership will host the “Springboard to Midwifery” event at Hull Royal Infirmary on 2 April for Year 12 learners considering midwifery courses at university.
Hospital midwives, collaborating with Hull City Council and Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), have designed the hands-on workshop to explain core clinical midwifery skills using simulation, without the need for students to enter busy clinical areas.
Midwives will recreate scenarios including labour and delivery, a caesarean section in theatre and maternity care on a ward including breastfeeding and postnatal recovery.
Alongside the clinical aspects of midwifery, the hospital team will also outline the supportive role midwives play throughout pregnancy, birth and those first essential weeks with a baby.
Helen Smith, Recruitment, Retention and Pastoral Lead Midwife at Hull Royal Infirmary, said: “This is a rare opportunity to be able to experience the day in the life of a midwife.
“Students will be able to practise midwifery skills and understand the patient experience from bump to baby during this fantastic workshop for prospective midwives.”
Springboard to Maternity builds on the success of previous ‘Day in the Life’ sessions run by the hospital’s education and clinical teams to help students explore potential careers in the NHS.
All schools with sixth form students and further education colleagues were invited to apply for places in January and, within days, all 12 places had been snapped up, with the workshop places massively over-subscribed. Now, plans are under way for a similar event later in the year to meet the demand.
Ricky Hurley, of the Local Maternity and Neonatal System, Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said: “Springboard to Midwifery is a fantastic opportunity for Year 12 students to explore the exciting and varied role of the midwife — from expert clinical care to supporting women and families through one of the most important journeys of their lives.
“We hope this experience inspires the next generation of midwives by showing them the skill, compassion and impact at the heart of this profession.”
Jayne Dobson, Employability Coordinator at Hull City Council said: “Springboard to Midwifery will give an amazing insight into the different levels of practice in a supportive environment, helping to build confidence and understanding of the profession.
“Importantly, it also gives local young people access to valuable experience that we know they need but are unable to offer through our current work experience programme.”