‌Becci Johnson, Joe Polson and Alexandra Eaton of the College of Human and Health Sciences are to give presentations at the Masterclass and National Learning Event organised by 1000 Lives Plus, which is a programme that supports the delivery of the highest quality and safest healthcare for the people of Wales. 

Third year BMid Midwifery student Becci set up a new breastfeeding peer support group for mums in Milford Haven while on placement with the Milford Haven Community Midwife Team in 2012.

Working in partnership with two young, local mothers to develop the group, Becci went on to win a £240 grant from the Milford Haven Port Authority which enabled the group to meet regularly at the local leisure centre.  Becci said that the group was helping to sustain breastfeeding amongst the women who attend and she is hoping that it will also have an impact on breastfeeding initiation rates too.

She added: “I'm really pleased to be invited along to the event.  It's great to get some recognition of the importance of the group, beyond the positive comments the mum's themselves have been making.  I look forward to hearing about other student projects too.”

First year BSc Mental Health Nursing students, Joe and Alex, were on placement at an older people’s mental health assessment ward in West Wales when they devised a plan to help inpatients find toilet facilities more easily.

Joe said: “Many of the patients struggled to see the current toilet signage which was small and used a neutral colour scheme.  We suggested that larger, more colourful signs featuring visual illustrations of toilets should be used instead and now there are plans to use the new signs on the ward. Alex and I are absolutely thrilled to have had the opportunity to make a real contribution to patient wellbeing.”

The Masterclass and National Learning Event organised by 1000 Lives Plus will be at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea on the 10^th and 11^th June. For more information visit: http://www.1000livesplus.wales.nhs.uk/home

Picture: Becci (centre) with the mums and babies from the Milford Haven breastfeeding peer support group