Czech Midwife's experience at Outer London NHS Trust

"Whipps Cross is quite an old hospital, it could not possibly compare to the modern facilities I came from in my country. When I first came, I was almost sure I will choose Chelsea or Slough where I had interviews the previous days. But the Consultant Midwife who gave me a tour around the maternity department when I had my interview, told me something, which absolutely changed my mins. He said that it is not the facilities which makes the delivery a great, unforgetable experience for the woman, it is the midwife who makes the difference. If you have a great midwife, the labour and delivery will be great experience as well. And I just wanted to be that great midwife... So I am here and I really do not regret, it was a good choice. There is a reconstruction going on in our Maternity, some improvements have been made and some are to be made within next couple of years. I think we have a great and very friendly team, everyone has always been very supportive to me.

I also started doing some agency work so I have a chance to see other hospitals as well and I must say I am always happy to go back to Whipps. It is one of the bussiest hospitals in London but also the friendliest - to employees, mums and babies... At least I think so. After my first two weeks of orientation I was based on Labour Ward - most of the days it is very hectic, but you can learn a lot there. Within my first three months I have seen and learned there more than in three years at home. It is also due to a great ethnic diversity, you meet people virtually from all around the world, things like thalasemia or FGM which we only read about in my country are your daily bread here... One senior midwife once told me that if you can work at Whipps you can work anywhere - I guess that is very true. Anyway, since the beginning of March I moved to Lilac Birth Centre which is midwifery led unit for low risk women. We do waterbirth as well. It is much calmer than labour ward, although it can get very busy as well. And I just enjoy myself!

At the beginning of October my older daughter (7y.o.) started going to primary school. Although she was wery keen on it, it was very hard for her (and all of us) at the beginning as she did not know English. She struggled a lot, crying every day, refusing going to school... But she is very smart girl, she did not give up and got into it very fast. Now she communicates freely with everyone, has many friends and also her teacher is very happy about her progres.

So thank you very very much for helping me all the way through to get this job and I am more than happy to be interviewed on Friday to encourage others to take this step. It is really worth it."