THE Barnsley Birthing Centre at Barnsley Hospital has been shortlisted for an award after student midwives on placement gave positive reviews of working there.

The centre has been shortlisted in the Student Nursing Times Awards 2019 in the category ‘Student Placement of the Year: Hospital’.

Erin Mae Deakin, midwifery student, said: “All the staff were welcoming and friendly - a lovely unit to work on with compassionate midwives.

“I felt as though I was a member of the team. My mentor often did a debrief after births and gave me praise a lot which really helped my confidence grow. She gave me constructive criticism and ways I could improve my quality of practice.”

Another student, Sarah Atkinson, said: “I loved working in the Birthing Centre. I will miss it greatly and all the staff.

“It showed me how labour can be a lovely, normal process and how we can build confidence in women that they have the ability to birth their babies naturally and without many interventions or on a time scale.

“I can’t say just how much I’ve loved working there. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to work there again at some point.”

The maternity service regularly holds events internally within the Trust and outside in the public arena to promote public health for pregnant women and consult with the community.

The final awards ceremony will be held on April 26 at the Grosvenor Hotel, London.