Profile of the Maternity Department
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda

The Maternity Unit

The Maternity Unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda is the largest Maternity Unit in the Region and approximately 4,000 women gave birth in the Unit last year. The birth rate has increased steadily over the past five years.

The Unit is a Level 3 Obstetric Unit together with the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The Maternity Unit provides:

• Antenatal booking and return clinics
• High Risk and Diabetic antenatal clinics
• Outreach booking / return clinics in Louth County Hospital
• Fetal Assessment/Maternity Day Unit Service
• Antenatal and Postnatal Parent craft Education
• Breastfeeding support and advice
• Antenatal inpatient care from early pregnancy
• Low and high dependency intra natal care including 24 hour epidural service, obstetric theatre and recovery room
• Postnatal care to mother and babies
• Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit
• Midwifery Led Unit

The Midwifery Led Unit

In July 2004 Midwifery Led Services were introduced to the region. These were the first Midwifery Led Units in Southern Ireland and were greatly welcomed by staff and women. The philosophy of the midwifery-led unit is consistent with the philosophy of regional, national and international policy documents, which emphasize that women should have choice, continuity and control over how, where and with whom their care is provided. The MLU aims to provide high quality, evidence-based and cost effective woman-centered care. It provides individualised and family centered maternity care, with a strong emphasis on skilled, sensitive and respectful midwifery. Midwives working in the MLU are highly skilled in the art and science of midwifery and committed to the underlying philosophy of care. Over 400 women have given birth in the Midwifery Led Unit to date. Over 40 of these birth were water births.

Number of Births per year at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital:

Birth rate 2006 = 3889

Birth Rate 2007 anticipated 4200 - 4400

The Unit consists of 57 inpatients beds for antenatal / postnatal care. Three of these are situated in the Midwifery Led Unit.

Staff in the Unit work as a multidisciplinary team and there are daily and weekly team meeting held on a variety of topics. A weekly Clinical Governance meeting takes place for all members of the team.

We are pleased that the Hospital achieved the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (2007). We also hold the award for Baby Friendly Silver Workplace Initiative (2007).

Work on regional Consumer group fora commenced in 2005 and the inaugural meeting of the group called 'Birth Matters' took place at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in 2006.

We are currently involved in several Research Projects in association with University of Ireland, Trinity College Dublin.

Shift times / Working hours We offer flexible working hours to suit your needs. Shift times vary and your choice to work long or short shift times can be accommodated. Panel hours are available from zero hours. Contract hours are available from 8 - 39 hours per week.

We can assist you with sourcing accommodation in the area. We are happy to recruit junior and newly qualified midwives to all areas in the Unit to work with more qualified staff and gain experience.

Hospital Facilities include:

• Staff Care services
• Free Car Parking
• Subsidised Canteen Facilities
• Coffee Dock
• Family Friendly Initiatives
• Excellent Educational Facilities and Library
• VHI Group Scheme
• Active Social Club
• Golf Society
• Library

Education opportunities

We are committed to life long learning and all midwives are encouraged to identify their educational requirements. Staff are supported and funded to continually enhance their personal and professional commitments. There is an extensive education programme for midwives available in the Unit and support is given for external national and international courses, which enable personal and practice development.

Midwifery Education

B.Sc. (Hons) in Midwifery

In November 2005, the Minister of Health and Children announced the introduction of a pre-registration undergraduate midwifery degree programme in Ireland and this programme commenced in Dundalk Institute of Technology in partnership with Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in September 2006. In order to support the midwifery students and clinical areas the roles of Midwifery Allocations Officer, Clinical Placement Co-ordinators and Midwifery Practice development Co-ordinator were introduced.

Higher Diploma in Midwifery

The introduction of an18 month post-registration midwifery programme will commence in Dundalk Institute of Technology in September 2007 in partnership with Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Candidates who successfully complete the programme can register as a midwife with An Bord Altranais. Under current EU regulations those candidates who wish to register as a midwife in another EU country must undertake a further year of midwifery practice which encompasses all the activities of the midwife and which must be verified by An Bord Altranais.

Future Developments

Future developments within the unit will focus on enhancing hospital based services together with further expansion of a community based midwifery service.

Our vision and philosophy is to ensure services are developed based on partnership, evidenced based information and choice recognising the diverse needs of women and their families.

The Unit will provide an environment for midwives which will encourage and support a wide range of midwifery practices and professional development.