Health Minister announces additional investment in student midwives for Southern Trust area

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today confirmed that 12 midwifery students, dedicated to supporting maternity services in the Southern Trust area, have begun their training at Queen’s University.

The additional group of students has been commissioned by the minister in response to the pressures caused by the increasing birth rate in the area. In total, the minister has invested in the training of an additional 18 midwives, bringing the total annual commission to 62 places.

The minister said: “The increasing birth rate across Northern Ireland, especially in the Southern Trust area, has resulted in additional pressures on maternity services. To help training address this, I have invested in more midwives. Earlier this month I announced plans for an expansion of maternity services at Craigavon Area Hospital to enable an additional 300 births every year. We will now see the opportunity for these midwives to qualify and join the existing workforce in 18 months time.”

Mr McGimpsey went on to say: “A further measure that I have taken in the Southern Trust area includes the funding of a pilot programme for Midwifery Support Workers. This will provide extra training for support staff which will allow the midwives to concentrate on helping mothers and babies. My department will also undertake a nursing and midwifery workforce review later this year and will make recommendations in relation to the future profile of the workforce, including the number of midwives that will be needed over the next five years.”

Concluding, the minister said: “In Northern Ireland, we are fortunate to have a highly trained and dedicated midwifery workforce. I want to ensure that we strengthen our midwifery service, to ensure that we can continue to deliver high quality, safe and effective services for mothers and babies across Northern Ireland.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Craigavon Area Hospital had 3,795 births in 2007/08 an increase of almost 1,000 compared to 2003/04 when there were around 2,850 births. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) is currently considering the business case for the expansion of maternity services at Craigavon Area Hospital and a decision is expected over the next few months.
2. Media queries to DHSSPS Information Office on 028 9052 0571, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.