This Sunday, 5 May, we want to celebrate the work of midwives and empower solidarity across the nation. This year, we are shining a light on the role midwives play in addressing climate change. Midwife-led units, home-birthing and community care contribute to earth-friendly birthing and infant care. Internationally, midwives deliver safe and environmentally sustainable health services, help communities adapt to climate change and are often first responders in climate emergencies.
Locally we are proud to be ‘growing our own’ midwives. Chris Caldwell, our Chief Nursing Officer, recently celebrated a group of pupils of the Saracens Secondary school, who have been undertaking the new T Level in Health focused on midwifery. The T level represents an exciting partnership across North Central London and a key element of our future workforce strategy for health and care, engaging local young people in health and care careers from an early age.
Chris, in her academic role at Middlesex University, has been supporting this work which will feed into the Clinical Academic Nexus for Nursing and Midwifery between North Central London ICS and the university.
“The T Level in Health offers students a practical first step into the NHS,” says Chris. “Which is a great place to start and build a career. I am delighted to see the development of entry routes into the NHS, which has been achieved through extensive collaboration between Middlesex University, Barnet Education and Learning Service and Saracens High School.”
“This partnership supports the huge amount of work already taking place within North Central London towards the long-term development of a local health workforce.”
For International Day of the Midwife, one of the best ways to celebrate it is by learning about midwifery and the role it plays in home-birthing. If you know a midwife or one who helped you give birth to your child, send them a thank you card or call them and tell them you appreciate them.