Thirty-five new midwives are set to begin their careers at University Hospitals Sussex (UHSussex).
On 8 October 2024, the Trust warmly welcomed 29 midwives during an induction day event at Worthing. An additional six midwives are expected to join in the new year. This latest recruitment drive highlights the Trust’s commitment to enhancing maternity care and safety.
Amongst the new recruits is Fran Talbot, 52, who previously worked on frontline ambulances 25 years ago. After getting married and experiencing her own maternity journeys, Fran is now pursuing a career as a midwife.
She said: “I’m excited to discover my identity as a midwife and the privilege of witnessing the intimate moments between new parents and their newborns.”
Emma Chambers, Director of Midwifery, shared her enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to welcome these midwives to University Hospitals Sussex. Almost all these talented individuals have been training with us as students, during what has been a very difficult time for the NHS. This is a testament to their hard work, and we are excited to see them transition into their professional roles. Our commitment to their career development is unwavering, and we look forward to supporting them as they grow and thrive within our team.”
In recent years, significant improvements have been made to enhance maternity services, including the adoption of a nationally recommended triage process that enables staff to swiftly and effectively address any concerns, ensuring prompt resolution of potential issues.
Additionally, the service has improved how staff listen to and support families, creating a more compassionate and responsive care environment.
The arrival of these skilled professionals is anticipated to further strengthen the Trust’s capacity to deliver high-quality care to expectant mothers and their families.
Amy Morgan, 38, always wanted to be a midwife and decided to pursue her dream after having her two children and being inspired by her midwife.
She said: “I’m passionate about caring for women and looking forward to being a midwife. Everyone remembers their midwife, so it’s nice knowing you’ll be remembered constantly for the rest of their lives.”
Dr Maggie Davies, Chief Nurse, said: “Thanks to the incredible hard work of our midwifery teams, our key safety outcomes are now better than national benchmarks, and our patient feedback is extremely positive, reflecting significant improvements in the overall quality of care. With the addition of our newest team members, we are committed to further strengthening our workforce and continuing to provide exceptional care for our local community.”
Rosie Jennings, Recruitment and Retention Matron for Maternity, organised the induction event. She said, “It was wonderful to have all our new midwives together in one place for the event. We are deeply grateful for the incredible support we received. Two local bakeries, Real Patisserie and Open Bakery generously catered for the event. I’m also grateful to our Trust charity, My University Hospitals, and the Royal College of Midwives for their contributions. Their generosity made our event truly special and memorable.”