Happy New Year and welcome to Season 6 of the Maternity & Midwifery Hour! 

We find ourselves in the epicentre of a new COVID-19 storm. The recent variant has led to increased infection and sickness in the population, staff shortages, longer working hours and reduced breaks.

The first episode of the New Year will take a timely look at strategies and techniques you can adopt to boost your own wellbeing and that of your colleagues, helping you to move into 2022 stronger and more supported.

I came to Midwifery quite late in life having worked in retail for a number of years. I wanted to follow my long-time dream of becoming a midwife but did not think that there was a route for me. Then I found Direct Entry and have not looked back. I am currently a Midwifery Lecturer at Bangor University and love working with the students and out clinical midwife colleagues. Previously I worked as a midwife within Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board in Ysbyty Gwynedd (Gwynedd Hospital) rotating between Antenatal, Intrapartum and Postnatal care. I have always held an interest in the wellbeing of colleagues and particularly in student integration into the placement environment.

Kara Davies is a community midwife in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. She will be moving to Cwm Taf Morgannwg in three weeks. Kara is a community Prompt facilitator and she is part of Midwives in Mind.

Supported by MATFLIX: www.matflix.co.uk