Second cohort of international midwives welcomed to Durham and Darlington

The second cohort of internationally recruited midwives in the North East have been welcomed to Durham and Darlington.

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) successfully recruited ten international midwives to join the Trust in two cohorts of five.

The first cohort of five midwives joined the Trust in August this year, passed their OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) exams and are now working in the maternity departments at our hospitals.

This month the second cohort of five have been enjoying a welcome week with the Trust before undertaking their training in York in preparation for sitting their OSCEs.

Noel Scanlon Executive Director of Nursing and Patient Experience at CDDFT said: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome these additional five international midwives to the Trust. International nurses and midwives are an integral part of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust team.

"Earlier this year our international recruitment team were awarded the NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award for the support they provide to colleagues recruited internationally, so we know our latest recruits are receiving a very warm welcome.

"We're thrilled they are here and eager to support our maternity colleagues to provide safe, compassionate and joined-up care for our patients."

Four of the midwives are from Nigeria Chioma Chukwu, Mary Oluwafemi, Khadijat Mamud and Sandra Yusifand and one Esther Boateng is from Ghana.

Lucy Taylor Lead Midwife for Placement, Education and Workforce at CDDFT, said: "We've had a very busy and enjoyable welcome week with our second cohort of international midwives where they have met key members of the maternity teams, registered with a GP, set up bank accounts and completed their induction process. And their first week culminated in a welcome meal at Tre Amici with our other new starters in maternity and attended by our Associate Director of Operations Lee Mack and Acute Matron Kelly Birleston. The new midwives are now attending their OSCE boot camp in York before returning to the Trust at the end of November.

"Once they have passed the OSCE process and have their PIN, they will be registered midwives working on the maternity wards at Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham.

"Before their arrival we have worked really hard to start the welcome process, with lots of conversations, setting up a WhatsApp group so they can get to know each other virtually and preparing them as best we can for life here in Durham and Darlington."