More than 70 Midwives across four Black Country NHS Trusts will be celebrated at a special event tomorrow that acknowledges their contribution to their teams and the invaluable support they give to pregnant women and families.

The Midwives have joined Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trusts from Lagos, Nigeria and Ghana in the main.

They will gather tomorrow at the Lecture Theatre in Wolverhampton Medical Institute at New Cross Hospital to receive for their successful completion of OSCE, a test of competence for all Midwives, and a goody bag to thank them for their hard work.

Jo Hadley, Digital Lead Midwife for NHS England will be a guest speaker at the event and Group Chief Executive of Walsall and Wolverhampton, Professor David Loughton CBE, will also attend.

Four Midwives will also share their experiences. They are:

Abigail Akinola, Wolverhampton

Elizabeth Olayinka – Sandwell

Boluwatife Emmanuel Ojekunto -Dudley

Grace Ennin – Walsall

Karen Glover, International Recruitment Lead for Midwifery for the ICB, said: “It was identified across the Black Country Local Maternity and Neonatal System (BCLMNS) that we needed to look at our recruitment – in common with Trusts across the country – and we have worked hard to attract and retain Midwives from overseas.

“It became apparent, however, that they were having difficulties with their OSCE tests which concerned and worried us. After all, these Midwives were competent professionals and it was a concern to us that they seemed to be struggling.

“The solution was for me to set up a kind of boot camp at West Park Hospital in Wolverhampton and do the training myself and I’m delighted to say that of our group, 98 per cent passed first time with the remainder second time. This tailored approach really brought dividends for us all and we’re proud that they will be recognised at tomorrow’s event. We are also proud that we have retained all of our Midwives here in the Black Country.”

Kanwal Kaur, Project Manager, added: “Our Midwives have really embraced their studies and have worked so hard, becoming an important part of our Trusts. They are an asset to us and everyone who uses our Maternity Services. I hope they enjoy their event tomorrow.”