Many thanks to Hora Soltani (h.soltani@shu.ac.uk), Professor of Maternal and Infant Health & Cath Burke (c.burke@shu.ac.uk), Senior Lecturer in Midwifery for their story. You may remember from an article published in December that they visited Lithuania’s Midwifery and Obstetric last year. At the end of April, The Midwifery team welcomed colleagues from the Lithuanian University of Medical Science for a 2 day reciprocal visit to Sheffield in conjunction with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
30th April-1st May 2018
The Midwifery team welcomed colleagues from the Lithuanian University of Medical Science for a 2 day reciprocal visit to Sheffield in conjunction with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
On the first day we were able to take them around the Jessop Wing, showing them one of the new birthing pools recently installed and showcasing postnatal midwifery care both in the hospital and community settings. Lithuanian mothers only receive hospital postnatal care and the Lithuanian Health department is currently reviewing this in the hope of providing a community focused service.
On the second day our guests and Professor Soltani presented on the maternity system in Lithuania, the midwifery course and the evidence base around midwife-led continuity of care model to our students and staff. The day ended with a tour of the campus and students showcasing our clinical skills equipment. They demonstrated their aptitude in emergency drills for shoulder dystocia, breech birth and neonatal resuscitation.
Our visitors (one midwife and one obstetrician) were very impressed with the confidence and competence of our student along with the opportunities they are afforded on the course. Further joint working is planned including potential for reciprocal elective placements. With Midwifery being a new and growing profession in Lithuania, we are hoping our exchange programmes allow sharing experiences and support progress in advancing maternity care globally.