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199 Education NMH Annual Rep t | 2020 Front Row L-R: Lisa Courtney, Lauren Crowley, Anna Lyons. Back Row L-R: Katie O'Flynn, Annabel Murphy, all Midwives with Lucille Sheehy, Asst. Director of Midwifery and Nursing. T he Education and Practice Development Department is responsible for the organisation and coordination of ongoing education and the professional development of both qualified and student midwives and nurses at The National Maternity Hospital (NMH). We promote the philosophy of life–long learning and support staff to participate in educational programmes, conferences, seminars, and study days both internal and external. Several staff are pursuing education at Postgraduate degree, MSc and PhD levels. In conjunction with the Centre of Midwifery Education, the NMH provides an ongoing continuous professional development strategy for nurses and midwives. The NMH in partnership with the Higher Education Institutions, strive to maintain a high level of quality Midwifery and Nursing education to all students and qualified staff alike. The aim is to promote high standards of professional education, training and practice and professional conduct among nurses and midwives thus ensuring the safety and protection of the public. In 2020 the NMH provided education and clinical placements for 20 BSc interns and 23 Higher Diploma Midwifery students. The Transition Year two-day midwifery programme took place again early March and this was very positively evaluated by those who attended. On the 1 st April 2020 all clinical placements Midwifery and Nursing Education and Practice Development for supernumery midwifery and nursing student's years 1, 2 and 3 were suspended nationally due to COVID-19 pandemic. This will have an impact on their clinical placements going forward. Clinical Placements resumed in September 2020 for supernumery students. Initially all training and study days were cancelled due to COVID-19. The education team looked at different ways to facilitate education and training. The aim was to develop different teaching methods and the implementation of an adaptive response to the emerging education and training challenges. Classroom based learning was mainly paused and educationalists within the hospital developed an eLearning hub not only for staff but also for women attending the hospital. Virtual classes were run and on ward training and education was furthered developed. A decision was made to recommence face-to-face Mandatory training such as Basic Life Support, National Resuscitation Programme and Manual Handling in small groups in May 2020. Even during the pandemic over 64 study days and 191 teaching sessions were run with over 2,400 staff attending same. Congratulations to the following midwifery students who were awarded prizes at the 2019 Charter Day: Gold Medal, Dawn Smyth (Higher Diploma) and Siobhan O 'Doherty (BSc). The Elizabeth O Farrell Medal: Aisling Taylor (Higher Diploma) and Anna Mockler (BSc).