After recording no initial interest in five advertised midwife roles, the Tamworth Hospital has come up with a new plan to address the state-wide shortage of professional midwives, while also encouraging local employment.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Earlier in the year, the Maternity Service caught the ire of the public when the Community Midwife Practice was temporarily closed due to a “staff shortage”, although now General Manager Catharine Death is excited to announce some new roles, as well as a boost to the training program.
“With the help of some Ministry of Health funding we have been able to now employ two full-time nurse educators, and have now received permanent funding for a full time Lactation Specialist,” Ms Death said.
Previously the hospital had employed a full-time lactation nurse, but only for a 13-week term while they successfully lobbied for more funding.
“That role is being advertised now and will be absolutely permanent – we have identified it as being very important and it has really enhanced the unit over the last few months,” Ms Death said.
The unit has filled 1.3 Full Time Equivalent midwife positions, with two new employees starting in September, and while they still need another 1.7 FTE for a full compliment, a boost to the Midstart program will open another pathway for midwives to join the service.
“We have one student midwife in the program at the moment, but we will be taking that to four student midwives by next year,” Ms Death said.
“We are really excited about it and now have the education support to do it. We want to target growing our own, to bring them through our system, and keep local people in local areas.”
The unit took a fresh hit recently when the new Nurse Manager of Maternity resigned due to “personal reasons” just days before starting.
Former Emergency staff member and experienced midwife Richard Leighton has stepped into the role, as a “long-term acting manager”.
“Richard brings stability and ownership to the role – the staff have responded very well,” Ms Death said.