26/07/2021 | Press releases

Thirty midwives to join ESNEFT hospitals

Thirty new international midwives are to join labour wards and community teams across east Suffolk and north-east Essex over the coming months.

The additional midwives are being recruited from Italy and Portugal, and will work at Ipswich, Colchester and Clacton hospitals, as well as across the community midwifery teams in the area.

Jess Jackson midwife
An existing midwife from the ESNEFT team

Dee Macey, head of midwifery at ESNEFT, said it’s a “really exciting” move as all new recruits bring new and fresh skills to our existing teams.

All the overseas midwives are already registered with the National Midwifery Council (NMC), so after an initial period of induction will be ready to work alongside the existing staff to support families.

Dee Macey, head of midwifery

Dee added: “All the new midwives will have an induction period, then spend several weeks working with the teams, in the community, in wards, on the Delivery Suites and postnatally. In line with national guidance we will be working towards the provision of continuity of midwifery care, where the end point will be for  new parents to ideally have the same midwife from the beginning of their pregnancy through birth and into the postnatal period.”

The midwives will join the Trust at different stages, with some starting in October, then again in January. They’ll begin working alongside other midwives qualifying from local areas and starting their careers.

Dee said: “Every new person brings a different perspective and different skills into our team. International recruitment has a proven track record and has worked well across nursing staff for many years. European midwives in the past have really embraced the approach here and been absolutely fabulous.”

Overseas nurses
Nursing staff

Nursing staff from the Philippines, India and Africa work across all teams at ESNEFT hospitals.

Sarah Kench, head of clinical education and workforce, said ESNEFT has been chosen with one other health trust in the UK to undertake this pilot because of the wealth of experience with recruiting nurses from overseas.

She said: “We have a lot of experience of international recruitment and every individual is supported through a comprehensive 12-month development programme.

“When they first arrive, they will quarantine for ten days, while we support them online before beginning their Trust training. We offer pastoral support, arrange initial accommodation and help them settle into life in the area as well as in their clinical role.”

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