With very best wishes and kind regards,

T.

Tom McEwan

Senior Lecturer (Midwifery & Specialist Nursing).

Practice Learning & Partnership Lead (School of Health & Life Sciences).

In response to the nationally evolving coronavirus situation, University of the West of Scotland colleagues are now working remotely. I can still be contacted during my usual working hours and the best way to reach me is via this email address or my mobile phone number +44 (0)7711 001421.

Student Information

• Covid 19: Information and updates can be found on the UWS website https://www.uws.ac.uk/about-uws/coronavirus-covid-19-information/ 
• Student support services: Contact the student hub [log in to unmask] 

Prof Mary J Renfrew BSc RN RM PhD FRSE

Professor of Mother and Infant Health

School of Health Sciences

University of Dundee

11 Airlie Place

Dundee DD1 4HJ

Scotland

Please note I now work only 1 day a week, and may not be able to respond to you immediately

Mother and Infant Research Unit (MIRU)

From best evidence to everyday policy and practice

http://nursingmidwifery.dundee.ac.uk/mother-and-infant-research-unit

For all enquiries please contact this address: [log in to unmask]

From: Antonio Ig Sierra Garrocho <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, 17 May 2020 at 18:00
To: "Mary Renfrew (Staff)" <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: "A forum for discussion on midwifery and reproductive health research." <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: No midwife on NMC council

Thank you,

Thank you, Antonio. Yes, please feel free to share this - I only ask that you share all of it in its entirety, so that nothing I have said is taken out of context.  

 

Many thanks

All best wishes

Mary 

Prof Mary Renfrew FRSE

School of Nursing and Health Sciences

University of Dundee

 

Scottish Improvement Science Collaborating Centre

44-1382 388664

 

Sent from my iPad

On 17 May 2020, at 12:49, Antonio Ig Sierra Garrocho <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Thank you very much for your response, Mary. Can I kindly ask if I can share your email with the Consultant Midwives - UK group? I think many will find your view and suggestions helpful, too.

 

Thank you.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Antonio Sierra

 

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De: A forum for discussion on midwifery and reproductive health research. <[log in to unmask]> en nombre de Claire Feeley <[log in to unmask]>
Enviado: domingo, 17 de mayo de 2020 12:36
Para: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Asunto: Re: No midwife on NMC council

 

Dear All,
The NMC has responded to social media concern -statement here Statement from NMC Chair on recent Council member recruitment

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Statement from NMC Chair on recent Council member recruitment


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Thank you for your insights Mary, really useful.
Best wishes,

Dr Claire FeeleyMidwife/ResearcherEditor The Practising Midwifehttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Claire_Feeley
https://www.all4maternity.com/
 

    On Sunday, 17 May 2020, 09:31:15 BST, Lucia Rocca <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
 
 Thank you so much Mary and Katherine!


Dr Lucia Rocca-IhenachoPhD, MSc, RM
Lecturer in Midwifery and NIHR Research Fellow
Centre for Maternal and Child Health ResearchSchool of Health SciencesCity University London1 Myddelton StreetLondon
EC1R 1UW
07989 230313Skype contact: luciainsky
 



On Sun, 17 May 2020 at 00:39, Katherine Hales <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Thank you for adding your insight Mary, it seems that the appointment process is obscure and not very transparent. ARM did approach potential nominees to the panel without success but would be glad to do so again. There are a number of individuals with the range of experience who would be an asset to the midwifery voice. We shall certainly write to the NMC.
Katherine Hales.National Coordinator. 
On Sat, 16 May 2020, 12:57 Mary Renfrew (Staff), <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


Hello all

 

Following up on the comments here on the non-appointment of any midwives to NMC Council - I agree, it is completely unacceptable for the NMC not to have appointed any midwives to its Council in the recent round of appointments, and I am deeply disappointed with this outcome of the recruitment  process.  

 

I have known the NMC well for over more than a decade.  Some of you will know that I led the work on developing the new standards of proficiency for midwives for the NMC over the past three years  - the Future Midwife work -https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/midwifery/education/. I also spent some years as a midwife member of NMC Council, and am currently a member of the NMC’s Midwifery Panel. So this outcome is especially disappointing for me, because in recent times I have seen really positive developments benefiting the midwifery profession. In particular, the Future Midwife work involved direct contact with hundreds of midwives, students, educators, a range of advocacy and professional organisations, and with women and families all across the UK, and virtual contact with thousands more. NMC colleagues, both staff and Council members, put substantial positive energy and resource into that work. Those new education standards, which are radically different in large part because of the input of midwives and others, have been joyfully welcomed by both UK and international colleagues. In the course of that work I saw a genuine development in the understanding of midwifery within the organisation. The midwifery voice was sought throughout the development of the NMC’s new strategy, created under positive new leadership. The Midwifery Panel has been developing its role over the past couple of years. And there are now two full-time senior midwifery advisers working in the NMC. But despite these positive signs, the recent appointment round to the NMC Council is a serious mis-step.  

 

What should be done?  For what it’s worth, I don’t think the time is right to campaign for a separate or different regulator - political priorities are against that direction of travel, and I think it would not be a good use of energies. I do think that the NMC needs to urgently re-visit this recruitment decision, to identify more inclusive and pro-active recruitment practices, and to commit to ensuring a proper midwifery voice on Council to ensure effective governance. What can we do now? We can perhaps start by identifying and supporting midwives with relevant experience to apply for opportunities when they are advertised - Council members need governance experience as well as knowledge of midwifery. We can contact members of the Midwifery Panel to make sure they are all informed about the profession’s views and supported in their work -https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/midwifery/meet-the-midwifery-panel/.  We can write to the Chair of Council, the Chair of the Midwifery Committee, the Chief Executive, and the senior midwifery advisers, to make sure that the midwifery profession is involved in discussion and part of the solution -https://www.nmc.org.uk/about-us/governance/.  

 

The danger is that in stepping back from engagement with the NMC, we end up by weakening the midwifery voice in our own professional regulation. That would be a sad outcome, especially at this time. Globally, recognition of the importance of midwives is growing, as is the evidence that demonstrates midwives’ core role in the safe, effective, respectful and compassionate care of women, babies and families. And as the Covid-19 pandemic takes hold, the midwifery voice is needed now more than ever. Let’s make sure it is heard. 

 

All best wishes

Mary

 

 

Prof Mary J Renfrew BSc RN RM PhD FRSE

Professor of Mother and Infant Health

School of Health Sciences

University of Dundee

11 Airlie Place

Dundee DD1 4HJ

Scotland

 

Mother and Infant Research Unit (MIRU)

From best evidence to everyday policy and practice

http://nursingmidwifery.dundee.ac.uk/mother-and-infant-research-unit

 

For all enquiries please contact this address:[log in to unmask]

 

 

 

From: "A forum for discussion on midwifery and reproductive health research
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