Midwives flock to Scotland

May 28 2008

A GROUP of 3000 midwives from across the world will flock to Scotland this weekend – and Paisley woman Anne Duffy is the driving force behind the "homecoming".

Anne, a labour ward sister at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, is heavily involved in setting up the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Triennial Congress.

People who bring children into the world all over the globe will be at Glasgow’s SECC from Sunday to Thursday and Paisley midwives will have a strong input.

Anne, secretary of the Royal College of Midwives’ Renfrewshire branch, said: "There will be 3,000 midwives from 100 countries, and they are coming from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.

"Years ago a lot of foreign midwives came to Scotland to train, and some have never been back here since.

"Scotland had fantastic midwifery training and was well known globally and held in high esteem. A lot of people will not have been back in Scotland for decades – so this will be like a homecoming."

Anne, who has been a midwife for 19 years, will be at Glasgow Airport on Saturday and Sunday to meet and greet the foreign visitors.

And 22 staff from the RAH, Vale of Leven Hospital and the Southern General will be among 80 midwives singing in the choir at the congress opening ceremony next Sunday.

The singers have had a helping hand in their preparation for the big day from Father Denis Carlin, of St Peter’s Church in Paisley.

Anne explained: "Father Carlin conducts the diocesan choir and had the job of helping sort us out!

"The Scottish Opera conductor will conduct the choir on the day, and 40 of the choir will be Scottish.

"There will be a multi-faith service before the choir takes to the stage, and Neilston Pipe Band will also be involved along with Irish dancers and the Scottish Orchestra."

The congress will discuss issues including the appropriate use of reproductive and birth technology in maternal and newborn health and promoting the health of women, the newborn and families.

HRH The Princess Royal will be at the event, in her role as patron of the RCM, and she will be joined by First Minister Alex Salmond.

In her foreword for the event’s brochure Princess Anne said: "As patron I know how important midwives are in raising the standards of maternal and child care throughout the world."

Mr Salmond offered a big welcome to the visitors from every corner of the world and promised them "the warmest hospitality a nation can offer".

Anne added: "This event is a great opportunity for networking. I was in China in November 2006 and some of the girls from that event will be in Glasgow next week. We are using it as a big reunion."

For more information on the 28th Triennial Congress, go to midwives.org