Midwifery degree via satellite may ease pressure

A three-year midwifery degree available to Taranaki students via a satellite link with an Auckland university could ease the pressure on the region's midwives.

From next year, AUT University will offer a full-time undergraduate midwifery degree course in Taranaki, in addition to the two-year course currently available to registered nurses.

The Bachelor of Health Sciences (Midwifery) programme will be taught via a satellite video link and students will be able to complete most of their clinical practice in Taranaki.

AUT link lecturer Amanda Hinks said the course could eventually ease the pressure on Taranaki midwives.

"This is very much needed. We've got a national shortage and we've definitely got a shortage in Taranaki," she said.

"For many people, going to Auckland or Wellington to train is just not possible. Graduates are more likely to stay in Taranaki if they're already established here, too."

Taranaki students would use a satellite TV link to join in lectures given to midwifery students in Auckland, Mrs Hinks said.

"They'll see everything the Auckland students see," she said.

"Any presentations shown in Auckland will come up on screen in Taranaki and students here will be able to interact with the class."

Mrs Hinks said the course would be taught in blocks of theory and clinical practice.

Clinical components of the course could be completed at any of Taranaki's maternity facilities.

"There could be student midwives at Hawera Maternity as well as in New Plymouth," she said.

"Clinical practice usually lasts five weeks and students will either be assigned to a midwife working in the community or will come into the hospital for five weeks to work alongside midwives."

Taranaki would be able to cater for up to eight students on the course at a time, Mrs Hinks said.

"Keeping in mind that we'll have two first-year midwives next year, we're probably looking at having about four students," she said. "But it depends on the calibre of applications we get. If we couldn't whittle it down, we could take six."

The effects of the nationwide shortage of midwives were felt in Taranaki last year with Stratford's Elizabeth R. Hospital forced to suspend its services when a midwife went on holiday and a replacement could not be found.

As well as supporting registered nurses through the current two-year course and the full programme starting next year, the TDHB offers a return to midwifery programme. Aimed at midwives who have been out of the workforce for three years or more, the 15-week course leads to a full practising certificate.

- © Fairfax NZ News