A pharmacist from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Lyn Watt, was part of a regional steering group which developed the guidance and a new e-learning tool to help midwives understand their responsibilities in terms of medicines management.
Midwives and Medicines (NI) aims to give midwives up-to-date information on the latest medicines and legislation and provides learning scenarios and self-assessments to help maternity staff to improve their understanding and confidence.
Director of Pharmacy for the Southern Trust, Dr Tracey Boyce, congratulated Lyn on her involvement in the project, saying, ‘The pharmacy team work closely with other clinical colleagues for the benefit of our patients and are very proud that Lyn’s expertise and knowledge has been applied to this regional guidance which will benefit women and their babies across Northern Ireland.’
Welcoming the new guidance, Joanne McGlade, Acting Head of Midwifery for the Southern Trust, commented, ‘Each year we have around 6,000 births across both of our acute hospitals, Daisy Hill and Craigavon Area. We have a very dedicated midwifery team who are committed to mothers and babies and want to ensure that they are always practicing within the expected professional standards.
‘We are delighted to have this new resource, which will help to give our staff a better understanding of their role and responsibilities around medicines and ensure that expectant women in the Southern area are receiving the best possible care.’
This e-learning tool can be accessed via the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (NIPEC) at www.nipec.hscni.net and also through the HSC eLearning Centre. Awareness Sessions for Midwives are ongoing across Northern Ireland. Or click here: Midwives and Medicines.
