She said: “No day is ever the same. Being a digital midwife requires a blend of clinical knowledge, technical expertise, and a commitment to continuous learning. By embracing digital transformation, we are making services more efficient and safer and improving outcomes for pregnant people and their families.
“Accurate data reporting is also crucial for compliance with national data standards and for providing insights into the hospital’s performance so we can see where we are doing well and where we need to make improvements. This involves attention to detail and a collaborative approach with clinical colleagues to rectify any discrepancies as well as providing them with the insight they need.
“As a midwife I have a good idea of the challenges our maternity staff face and I can connect and support them in a way that empathises with what their job entails.”
While Trude may be the hospital’s only Digital Midwife she is certainly not alone thanks to a network of over 200 digital midwives employed across the country.
She added: “We form a supportive and dynamic community. We regularly share best practice inspire each other, and collectively drive forward the digital agenda in maternity care.”
To help her develop her leadership skills, Trude is currently undertaking a postgraduate diploma in Digital Health/Maternity Leadership at Imperial College London, and working towards her masters degree.
Meanwhile, there are 24 Practice Development Nurses (PDNs) working in general and specialist areas across the hospital. Nuala Brady-Murphy is one of five PDNs who work on the Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit.
She said: “As a PDN my role is to empower fellow nurses to be active participants in their learning and development so they can provide the best standards of patient care and safety and help to improve and develop the service.
“I do this by mentoring and supporting new and existing staff through education and clinical skills-based training to increase their knowledge base and practical skills. As part of that work I help develop new learning materials and with the on-going review of existing resources to ensure they meet the required learning outcomes.
“I also carry out assessments of the staff to ensure they are competent and capable to undertake their roles in accordance with Trust policies and the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMCs) code of practice.”
The 39-year-old from Dartford, who was a carer in the community for five years before joining the hospital as an MSW on the postnatal ward in 2017, said: “I’ve wanted to be a midwife for a long time, however losing a regular income would have been detrimental to my family and I was wary about having a large amount of debt at my age. But the apprenticeship route meant I didn’t have to worry about any of that.
“It was hard juggling it all with my three children but I couldn’t imagine doing any other job so I knew it would be worth it in the long run.
“Having a baby is one of the hardest yet most rewarding part of a family’s life. It is also a time when a woman is at her most vulnerable. Being there and being allowed to support the family during that time feels like a huge honour and a privilege.”
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