Portlaoise Hospital Maternity Services and Trinity sign teaching and research MOU
Posted on: 22 October 2018
Maternity Services at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise and Trinity today, Monday 22nd October, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that recognises Portlaoise Hospital as an affiliated clinical teaching centre for students of Trinity’s School of Nursing & Midwifery.
Specifically, the Memorandum of Understanding will enable Portlaoise Maternity Services and the School of Nursing and Midwifery to:
- Co-operate in establishing teaching, research and clinical links and provide a suitable environment for undergraduate and postgraduate training and education in midwifery
- Encourage and support research
- Work together for the provision of excellence in women and infants’ care
Professor Anne Marie Brady, Trinity, said: “The Faculty and the School of Nursing and Midwifery are pleased to formalise our academic links with the maternity services at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, who share our determination to enhance the provision of care, improve clinical education and increase our capacity for research. We are delighted to sign this agreement with the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise to advance the clinical training of our midwifery students.”
Welcoming the announcement, Mr Trevor O’Callaghan, CEO of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group said: “The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, through its academic partner, Trinity College Dublin, is committed to fostering education, research and innovation for the benefit of patients and the continuous professional development of our health professionals.
The provision of excellence in women and infants’ care is a priority as set out in our first Group Strategy 2018-2023 launched earlier this year. This provides us with an opportunity to enhance recruitment and retention of our midwifery nursing staff and the opportunity to actively participate in research and development of midwifery practice in conjunction with Trinity. We are committed to working to realise the full potential of this MOU and begin this exciting new chapter for Portlaoise Maternity Services.”
Maureen Revilles Director of Midwifery at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, said: “The Maternity Services at Portlaoise Hospital are so pleased to formalise our academic partnership with Trinity. This is an important development for the maternity department to become involved in the training of undergraduate midwifery students. This will help to raise the profile of the department as a progressive and vibrant service contributing to maternity care in Ireland. In the coming months we will be preparing for our NMBI site visit and approval and we will be appointing a Clinical Placement co-ordinator to support student midwives.”
Michael Knowles, General Manager at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, said: “This is a strong endorsement of the maternity services at MRHP which will enable us to strategically position MRHP Maternity Services as an employer of choice for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Hospital Management with the support of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group will continue to build on the developments that have taken place at the hospital in the last number of years, ensuring at all times the continuous delivery of excellence in women and infants care.”