University celebrates first midwifery graduates

A North East university is marking a milestone moment as newly qualified healthcare professionals begin their careers supporting families across the region.

The University of Sunderland is celebrating its first cohort of midwifery graduates, with the vast majority now working in NHS trusts across the North East. 

Of those completing the BA (Hons) Midwifery Practice course, 92 per cent have secured roles in local trusts including South Tyneside and Sunderland, Newcastle, County Durham and Darlington, North Tees and Hartlepool, and Northumbria Healthcare.

The cohort, which enrolled in 2022, has spent the past three years developing the clinical and practical skills required to support families throughout pregnancy and childbirth.

Many of the newly qualified midwives are now marking the achievement as they cross the stage at the university’s 2026 winter graduation ceremonies at the Fire Station this week. 

These include midwifery graduate Nicola Bamling, who has already started her career in the city, providing support for families at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

Nicola said: “Graduating as a newly qualified midwife fills me with a deep sense of pride and gratitude. 

“The University has shaped me not only academically, but personally and professionally. 

“It pushed me to grow in ways I never expected.

“University taught me what it truly means to be a midwife. 

“It taught me to listen deeply, to be present, to support families with empathy and respect, and to trust both my knowledge and my intuition.

“Graduating is not just the end of a chapter; it is the beginning of a lifelong commitment to learning, caring, and advocating. 

“I am so proud of the midwife that this journey has shaped me to be.”

Another midwifery graduate, Claire Harrison, is also working in the region, providing care and support at the Royal Victoria Infirmary at the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Claire added: “I had both of my daughters in the RVI, and it was always where I envisaged working as a midwife. 

“So, I was over the moon when secured my role there.

“I went through the three years with such a supportive group and learned so much about midwifery from our lecturers who were experts in the field. 

“I felt ready to enter the profession as a newly qualified midwife, and hope this is the start of a long and successful career.”

This marks another step forward for the University of Sunderland’s expanding healthcare education offer, spanning medicine, nursing and paramedic science, and aimed at supporting NHS workforce demand.

Sarah Fairbairn, senior lecturer and programme leader for Midwifery Practice at the University, added: ‘‘We are incredibly proud of our first graduates who have joined the local midwifery workforce at a time of staff shortages. 

“They have worked very hard in both their academic studies and during clinical placements over the past three years.

“This graduation offers them an opportunity to celebrate their success and reflect on the personal and professional progress they have made as part of our initial cohort.

“They are now, even more so, role models for our current students, having paved the way for all who follow in their footsteps. 

“We look forward to seeing the positive impact they can have upon local maternity services.”

Sue Brent, head of the school of nursing and health sciences at the University of Sunderland, added: “We are thrilled to celebrate the graduation of our first cohort of midwifery students this January.

“Their hard work and dedication have prepared them to make a significant impact in midwifery services. 

“We are confident they will bring compassion, skill, and innovation to the field, and we look forward to seeing the positive difference they will make in the lives of families as they progress through their careers.”

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