18th October 2023
![2. The 15 new midwives are pictured with Clinical Skills Midwife Katrina McCullough.](https://southerntrust.hscni.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2-350x209.jpg)
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has welcomed 15 new midwives who are fulfilling their dream “of caring for women and their babies at this significant time in their lives”.
They are a welcome addition to the Trust maternity team, which consists of over 200 midwives who support women and families across Armagh, Dungannon, Craigavon, Banbridge, Newry and Mourne.
Around 5,100 babies are born in the Southern Trust in a typical year and this new cohort will support women and their families, before, during and after birth, in hospital, community clinics and at home.
During their initial induction week, they will be welcomed by experienced colleagues who will share tips and wisdom and we will equip them with essential training to help get them started.
Most of the new recruits have trained through Queen’s University, Belfast, over the past three years and have had their clinical placements within the Southern Trust, though we are also welcoming some who are new to the Trust, having trained as midwives elsewhere in the UK and Ireland.
After an initial induction week, they will start an 18 month post-registration programme to develop their clinical skills across community, antenatal, intrapartum (delivery suite and midwifery led unit) and postnatal care.
Chloe Harrison from Portadown said she was “very excited to start my new journey as a qualified midwife, progressing my learning further.”
“It’s a very exciting time in the Southern Trust and I feel privileged to be a part of it.”
Amanda McGoldrick from Armagh said:
“I’m really looking forward to starting my post with the Trust and fulfil my dream of caring for women and their babies at this significant time in their lives.”
Officially welcoming the new midwives to the Trust, Caroline Keown Assistant Director for Integrated Maternity and Women’s Health said:
“We are delighted to welcome this latest group of 15 new midwives to the Trust. They are joining at an exciting time as we continue to develop maternity services in the Southern Trust. We know they will be a brilliant addition to our very dedicated and compassionate maternity team and look forward to supporting them as they develop in their midwifery careers.”