Extra support for Hartlepool and North Tees midwives

The North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is working with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) to improve the support available.

The trust’s maternity services have signed the RCM’s Caring for You Charter.

It aims to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of maternity staff.

And that in turn means they can provide the highest levels of maternity care for women and their families.

Head of midwifery Janet Mackie said: “It shows our commitment to staff’s health and wellbeing and will ensure we continue to support staff in providing the highest level of care to women and their families.”

Becky Banks, who is the Royal College of Midwives Regional Officer, said: “I am delighted that North Tees and Hartlepool has signed the Charter.

“They have a committed team of midwives and maternity support worker, led by an enthusiastic head of midwifery committed to the welfare of her staff. This is a very positive move and I welcome their commitment to staff and the people they care for.”

Organisations which sign the charter are committing to five key principles. Those principles are;

* To develop and implement an action plan about health, safety and wellbeing issues that are important to the maternity workforce and maternity service users.

* Ensure that midwives and maternity support workers have access to a range of shift patterns and flexible working.

* Foster a positive working environment for all.

* Enable midwives and maternity support workers to have systems to protect their mental and physical health, and their safety and wellbeing.

* Nurture a compassionate and supportive workplace that cares for midwives and maternity support workers so that they can care for women and their families.