Clinical Midwife Manager, Placement Co-ordinator

The Clinical Placement Co-Ordinator (CPC) will guide and support

· Undergraduate BSc Midwifery student’s years one, two and three from UL/UCC,

· Post graduate Midwifery students from UCC,

· Post graduate PHN students from UCC placements and,

· RGN students on Maternity placement in conjunction with the CPC from the HEI.

And staff in assigned clinical areas to ensure that the clinical placement meet the requirements of the education programme regarding planned experiences and learning outcomes.

TippUH Maternity had on had on average 1000 deliveries per year over the past five years. It provides a valuable service to the women and families of Tipperary and surrounding counties. The hospital continues to evolve in line with The National Maternity Strategy. The Maternity Unit is part of Ireland East Women and Infants Directorate (ISWID). The Maternity Unit staff are a dynamic team and strive to achieve the best outcomes possible for all the women and families that use their services. It has been successful in implementing several of the objectives set out in the strategy e.g. Ultrasonography, Bereavement, Lactation Services and Perinatal Mental Health Services. Development is currently underway to develop Community Midwifery based services.

Maternity Services in TippUH provide a range of antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care, including a SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit). The service offers:

· A 20 bedded unit providing antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care

· A Special Care Baby Unit with 5 cots providing care to babies over 32 week’s gestation, including repatriation of babies from other units.

· 2 delivery/ labour ward rooms with a 24-hour epidural service, option for an emergency Category 1 LSCS on the Labour ward, with theatre suites in Main Theatre to support both elective and emergency Caesarean Sections and any other surgical procedure which may be required e.g. repair of tears /MROP.

· Hospital outpatient antenatal clinics held on site Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Outreach antenatal clinics are located in Primary Care Centres in Tipperary Town, Thurles, Carrick on Suir and Cahir.

· Face to face or virtual bookings (via phone) available three mornings per week, including phlebotomy.

· Fetal Assessment Unit available three afternoons per week.

· The Midwifery led service caring for women in the Supported Care Pathway has been established and developing.

· Plans to develop Community Midwifery including Early Transfer Home is in progress

· Antenatal Education Classes in conjunction with a Multidisciplinary Team are currently in place.

· Scanning Department provides booking, anatomy, growth, placental location and reassurance scans.

· In line with the Maternity Strategy, specialist post are in place and established e.g. Ultrasound, Bereavement, Diabetes and Perinatal Mental Health.

· Emergency Gynae Room in operation 24/7 staffed by midwife and NCHD.

· Recent developments include the total refurbishment of the Maternity unit, with implementation of an induction of labour room and cables CTG monitoring to support women in labour.

The unit recently completed an upgrade to Viewpoint 6 and implemented Video Enabled Care in for woman with gestational diabetes. New development plans in place for a new build Maternity Unit.