Midwifery Practice Development Co-ordinator University Maternity Hospital

Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) is a 150 bedded Tertiary Referral Centre for Maternity, Neonatology and Gynaecology located on the campus of Cork University Hospital. CUMH incorporates the Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Neonatology Services in the Cork University Hospital Group within the Health Service Executive Southern region. CUMH has approximately 7,500 births per annum and is a tertiary referral centre.

Services at CUMH are delivered within Ireland South Women’s and Infants Directorate in the SWHG which is based on the principles of partnership and integration and strongly supports the involvement of the multidisciplinary team in service provision.

There are four Maternity Units in Ireland South Women’s and Infants Directorate – University Hospital Waterford, University Hospital Kerry, Cork University Maternity Hospital and Tipperary University Hospital - spanning four of the largest counties in the country.

Maternity Services includes Neonatology and Gynaecology as well as Midwifery and Obstetrics.

CUH/CUMH are the sites for clinical placements for student midwives and student nurses in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with University College Cork. The Group’s Primary Academic partner is University College Cork.

CUMH Services incorporates the use of MNCMS (Maternal Newborn Clinical Management System) into care delivered at CUMH.

Six Health Regions have been established within the HSE, on the basis of the geographical boundaries agreed by the Government in July 2019 and they will be operational from 2024.

Each Health Region will be tasked with population specific planning resourcing and delivery of health and social care services for the needs of its unique population. This will result in improved accountability and governance in terms of finance and performance, while also bringing decision-making closer to the frontline.

Health Regions will enable and empower staff to provide services that are:

· Integrated, locally planned and delivered

· Easier to access and navigate

· Available closer to home

Health Regions are geographically-based units with clearly defined populations. They align community and hospital services within specific areas. The HSE will retain a strong but leaner central organisation, with more service provision developed at a local level.

The HSE South West Health Region will manage and deliver all public health and social care services in Cork and Kerry. HSE South West includes all hospital and community healthcare services in the region.

This includes:

· South / South West Hospital Group S/SWHG

· Cork Kerry Community Healthcare CKCH

The Department of Population and Public Health is also now aligned with this health region.

Services in the South West health region:

HSE Services working within this region include:

· Acute Hospitals

· Primary care services

· Community services

· Social care services

· Health and social care professionals

· Voluntary sector services

South / South West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare became part of HSE South West Health Region from 3rd March, 2025

Purpose of Post

Lead and manage the Midwifery Practice Development Team to develop, implement and monitor midwifery practice in all areas of the hospital and to promote an environment for professional midwifery practice which is consistent with the mission, vision and values of the organization and the profession.

In collaboration with the Practice Development Team and Clinical Midwife/Nurse Managers ensure that environments that are provided for students are capable of meeting the learning objectives set for students including placements outside of the hospital.

Be a member of the Senior Midwifery Management Team providing strategic and clinical leadership and direction for midwifery and related services which results in the delivery of effective, efficient, quality assured and patient centred care.

The Group’s Primary Academic partner is University College Cork. A wide range of educational programmes and research is conducted within all hospitals in the Group.

Informal Enquiries

Katie Bourke

Director of Midwifery CUMH

Phone 021 4920705

Email: Katie.Bourke@hse.ie