Country news: Wales

News and updates from RCM Wales by director Helen Rogers (Midwives Autumn 2018).

IDM:

A great number of events were held across Wales to celebrate International Day of the Midwife; in particular I was delighted to attend Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s (CVUHB’s) launch of Wales’ first specialist FGM pilot clinic.

The specialist service known as the Women’s Wellbeing Clinic will be open to all those affected by FGM or who are at potential risk of it. Specialist FGM midwife Emily Brace leads the midwife-led service working in close collaboration with the consultant obstetric team, designated child health consultant paediatricians and third-sector agency support. The clinic is staffed by females and held every Wednesday at Cardiff Royal Infirmary’s Health Access Practice.

The clinic received funding from the Iolanthe Midwifery Trust through the Jean Davies award, which funds individuals or teams working specifically to reduce or to investigate inequalities in maternal health.

CVUHB’s executive director Ruth Walker said: ‘It’s important to us that every woman who needs medical help or advice has the opportunity to be heard and receive the treatment and support they need. The health board is very pleased to be leading the way for Wales in offering the Women’s Wellbeing Clinic in Cardiff.’

Honours:

The Queen’s birthday honours announced in June were very well deserved. Congratulations go to Billie Hunter who is RCM professor of midwifery and director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Midwifery Development at Cardiff University. Billie was awarded a CBE for her work in education.

Congratulations:

We extend our congratulations to Emily Brace on her successful appointment to consultant midwife in Cwm Taf University Health Board in July.

WHO conference:

We are delighted to congratulate Cardiff and Vale midwife Alys Gower who had her abstract ‘Why junior midwives should actively seek opportunities to be involved in the activities of the global maternity community’ accepted to present at the 12th Biennial Conference of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery in July in Cairns, Australia. RCM Wales were thrilled to be able to support Alys in representing the Cardiff University WHO Collaborating Centre and Wales.

Activist training:

Well done to all at the Powys branch for presenting ‘How to run a virtual branch meeting’ at the summer Activist Training Day held in Leeds in July. The presentation was based on top tips on running a Facebook Live virtual branch meeting.

Read more on this here.