UCC SONM 25 Year Book

UCC / School of Nursing and Midwifery

From the 1970s, midwifery tutors were appointed, the programme in the Erinville Hospital was delivered by Ms. Margaret O’Sullivan, Ms. Rita O’Mahony was the first midwife tutor in St. Finbarr’s and in the Bon Secours, Ms. Catherine Flanagan. Ms. O’Sullivan was an early recipient of a Fellowship from the RCSI in Ireland. Change in midwifery education came when in 1976, a Midwifery Committee, formed from the European Midwives Liaison Committee, produced the original EU Directives (EEC/80/154 and EEC/80/155) with a focus on midwives’ educational requirements, the activities and practice of midwives and their competencies. The Directives led to an increase in the duration of the midwifery programme from one to two years. The EU Directives also regulated the practice requirements for student midwives which included the number of antenatal and postnatal mothers and babies required and also the number of births. While the Directives have been amended several times, the practice requirements, have not changed since they were first agreed over 30 years ago. A report on the Activities of Midwives within the European Union (European Midwives Liaison Committee 1996) sought to ascertain the practices, activities and responsibilities of midwives and their independence or autonomy within their area of practice. The practice of midwifery in Ireland was found to be compliant with the activities of midwives though it was recognised that few midwives cared for women in labour entirely on their own responsibility and postnatal community care was not provided. In 1989 the midwifery schools at Erinville and St. Finbarr’s Hospital united to become the Southern Health Board (SHB) College of Midwifery. This was based in St. Finbarr’s Hospital with Ms. Norah Mansell Quirke as the principal midwife tutor. At this stage the post registration midwifery programme for registered general nurses lasted two years. There were two intakes per year and students spent one year in each of the maternity hospitals. Practice assessment of students consisted of the An Bord Altranais Proficiency Assessment Form (PAF). To meet the EU requirements, students kept a record of clinical practice experiences and clinical assessments were also undertaken at the end of each year.

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