University Hospital Waterford (UHW) celebrates 21 years of Advanced Nurse and Midwifery practice

University Hospital Waterford (UHW) recently celebrated 21 years of Advanced Nurse and Midwifery practice by hosting an Advanced Nurse and Midwifery Conference, highlighting the impact these services are having on patients across the Southeast of Ireland.

In 2005, Emily Lockwood and Teresa Foley became the first Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP), and shortly afterwards, Janet Murphy became the first Advanced Midwife Practitioner in UHW. Today, UHW has a total of 43 Advanced Nurse and Midwifery Practitioners and candidates working across a wide range of specialties, including Emergency, Oncology, Paediatrics, Midwifery and Gynaecology to name but a few incorporating both acute and chronic conditions.

The recent event was very well attended. Each service delivered presentations outlining the scope of practice of Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioners and the significant impact they are having, including reducing waiting lists, decreasing Emergency Department pressures, shortening inpatient length of stay, and contributing to ongoing research. Practitioners also highlighted their involvement in committee work at both local and national levels, collaborating with various committees and universities.

The keynote speaker on the day was Michael Redmond, Director of Nursing. The panel discussion featured Kelly Mofflin, Deputy Chief Nurse, Department of Health, Ben O’Sullivan, CEO, UHW, Michael Redmond, Director of Nursing, Janet Murphy, Director of Midwifery, Charmaine Scallan, Assistant Director of Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development, and Tracey Dermody, South East Technological University (SETU).

The conference was also attended by Paul Gallagher, Regional Director of Nursing and Midwifery, HSE Dublin and South East, Professor Mark White, Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI), Lorraine Clarke Bishop, Director of Education, Policy and Standards with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland along with Advanced Nurse and Midwifery Practitioners and candidates, consultants, hospital and community nurses and managers.

It was particularly special to welcome retired Directors of Nursing and Midwifery from UHW, whose work laid the foundation for the establishment and development of these services. Their contributions was instrumental in enabling the hospital to reach its current position, with a growing number of practitioners continuing to enhance patient care across the region.