The Department of Health’s supervisors of midwives recently held a road-show to raise the public profile of midwifery supervision by explaining what a supervisor of midwives is and what the role is within midwifery services.
The event took place at The Strand Shopping Centre, and involved the five Isle of Man supervisors of midwives. They chatted with the public to raise awareness of the role of a supervisor of midwives and to give the public the chance to ask questions and gather information about midwifery and maternity services on the Island.
Bev Critchlow, Chief Nurse, said:
'Supervisors of midwives are a statutory responsibility for the service; raising the profile of this hard working group of experienced midwives is important to enable the public to be confident in the safe patient centred delivery of services within midwifery. The team are committed to supporting all the practicing midwives on the Island to practice with confidence, maintaining the excellent standards of ante and post-natal care for women and babies. I would like to congratulate the supervisors on an extremely well organised road-show.'
One of the supervisors of midwives, Jane Sloane, said:
'The road-show was well supported and we had some interesting discussions with members of the public. We wanted to showcase the role of the supervisor of midwives to raise the profile of the role and to help the public to understand the importance of their work in supporting all midwives to practice safely, with competence in delivering best practice standards.'
To provide midwifery supervision is a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) statutory responsibility, therefore in the Isle of Man the supervisors work in partnership with the UK Northwest NMC Supervising Authority. Supervisors of midwives are experienced midwives who actively support and guide the 52 practicing midwives on the Island to provide excellence in care. The purpose of midwifery supervision is to protect women and babies by promoting a safe standard of midwifery practice.
Lisa Bacon, Midwifery Officer, North West NMC Supervising Authority, said:
'I am delighted that the Isle of Man supervisors of midwives took the initiative to discuss midwifery supervision with the public. Supervision is a means of promoting excellence in midwifery care and the supporting of midwives to practise with confidence.’
The supervisors will continue to raise the profile of midwifery supervision with the public, through a number of initiatives. All pregnant women receive information on supervision including how to contact the supervisors of midwifery team. The supervisors of midwives take part in the Normality Group, which along with the lay member – Donna Long, has been instrumental in raising the local profile through birth stories validating women’s maternity experience; supporting the midwives to launch the ‘TT circuit for Labour and Birth’ and being involved in charity events such as The Jane’s Big Push.
