Student midwife Review

Overall I loved my placement at this hospital. There is so much to learn and so many opportunities to witness and take part in different aspects of care.the staff are friendly although it's worth remembering that they are under quite a bit of pressure so if they occasionally seem abrupt it's not personal, it is often during an emergency where things need to be done quickly.

I would say that this varied according to who I was working with but generally I felt that my work was valued and that they were appreciative that I helped to ease their workload. Always offer to help no matter how small the task, offer to change beds, make teas etc those small things always get noticed. Never sit idly even if your mentor is!

Some areas were great with supervision support and I felt that they were really committed to helping me learn and get the most out of my placement. Other times though I felt that I had to chase my supervisor to sign my books or go through my competencies which made me feel like an annoyance. You need to be a bit pushy sometimes to make sure your work gets done.

Extremely busy! But that is the nature of the job so I expected this. As mentioned above though I often struggled to get my competencies done due to the time constraints and heavy workload. When the staff get a free moment the last thing they want to do is your paperwork as they usually have paperwork of their own to catch up on. However being busy means that I gained a lot of experience and time flew by.

A fair amount of responsibility within the allowed limits. Certain tasks have to be witnessed by qualified members of staff but. I felt I was given the freedom to carry out skills that I was competent in which helped me grow in confidence. I think that they manage the progression of responsibility well so as you move through the program you are gradually given more

The skills I have learned will not only help me in my career but are also transferable to everyday life. My communication skills have improved dramatically along with my confidence which will benefit all aspects of my life. I have also encountered many issues around diversity and equality which have developed my passion for equal rights for all.

The atmosphere was mostly positive but sometimes when there were staffing shortages or increased workload staff were stressed and the atmosphere became tense. Staff are passionate about their jobs though as they are more a vocation so they remain committed. There are also times when a poor outcome occurs as this is the health industry which can obviously affect the atmosphere but support is available if needed.

Very organised. This is something which is done on a routine basis in the hospital so is well established. There is a clear support network for students on placement and staff are well briefed on the desired outcomes from the placement. The only issue would be that there could be more mentors but I believe this is currently being addressed.

Absolutely the hospital invested time and effort into my training and I am extremely grateful for that. Alongside the normal placement you are encouraged to attend study days and training sessions and workshops that are relevant to your future career. I would encourage people to attend everything possible as it is all beneficial and also looks good that you are going above and beyond

I would love to work at this hospital and that is the goal that I am working towards. They generally hire the students that have completed placements with them. There is usually a delay between qualifying and jobs becoming available but not too long as there is quite a high turnover of staff. This is a challenging place to work but absolutely worth it and very rewarding in my opinion.

Yes whenever time and shifts allowed there was the opportunity to get together with fellow students which helps as you can share your experiences and you know what each other are going through. You can also give tips that you have found helpful. The nature of the intensity of the placement can mean that big excursions are difficult but a catch up over a coffee is a must!

I would say it is fairly average I didn't notice a difference really as I live in the area already although someone from the south may find it much cheaper in this area

If you are a fan of clubbing or bars or theatre this area is great. Liverpool is only 15 minutes drive from the hospital and is renowned for it's nightlife. There are numerous clubs in the city centre and Albert dock has stylish restaurants and bars. It has the Liverpool empire theatre and the Liverpool philharmonic too. Within easy driving distance is Chester which also has a great nightlife scene and west Kirby and Heswall for bars and restaurants.

Not really. Apart from extra study days and workshops occasionally nothing else was arranged