Ms Angela Fitzgerald:

A member raised the matter of the rationale for the director of midwifery post in every unit. There are a couple of reasons. One concerns clinical leadership, with part of that ensuring that people are constantly supported around training and development. The other concerns clout and being able to sit shoulder to shoulder in the management team with the director of nursing, making sure the voice of midwifery is heard. HIQA identified that as one of the strengths of the actions taken in the aftermath of the Portlaoise issue. The intention would be to ensure the voices of nursing and midwifery are equally represented at the management table. That would address some of the concerns articulated earlier.

There is a separation of midwifery. We had much discussion with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, in developing the post, and the role is to ensure we recognise a separate professional pathway. It is early days but those steps are very important in having a voice and somebody with the expertise to drive out the points that were raised around professional development.