Joint statement on the return of midwifery students to the maternity service at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Bangor University recognise that excellence in the education and training of midwives is important for two key reasons. Firstly, we will secure the midwifery workforce of the future. Secondly, providing placements for midwifery students can contribute to the general culture of learning and development within midwifery services. In 2015, student midwives were temporarily withdrawn from the maternity service in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd following concerns raised by stakeholders. We have been committed to returning midwifery students to the service.
In September 2016 senior staff from the Health Board and University met and agreed that 3rd year students should return to the placement area. In February 2017, this group met and decided that 2nd year students should return. Student return has been implemented along with a dedicated programme of support and ongoing evaluation of the learning environment. We agreed to jointly re-evaluate the suitability of the service as a placement area for further student return. This re-evaluation was completed on the 13th of July, 2017. In addition to evidence of placement suitability held by our respective organisations, we consulted with a range of stakeholders including the Royal College of Midwives.
The joint decision that was reached is that the phased approach for student re-introduction should now be completed, with 1st year students returning to the placement area. This will be accompanied by a further programme of dedicated support for both students and service staff, together with on-going evaluation of the placement learning environment. We have committed to review this decsion in January 2018.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the students, teaching and maternity service staff who have all worked to ensure that the learning experience of midwifery students has been disrupted as little as possible.
Fiona Giraud
Associate Chief of Staff
Women’s Nursing and Midwifery
Sheila Brown
Lead Midwife for Education
Bangor University
Publication date: 24 July 2017