University celebrates first graduating midwives

Published on 15, January, 2026

Group of graduates and academics in gowns on a stage

The University of Sunderland is celebrating its first-ever class of graduating midwives who are supporting families during their pregnancy journeys across the north-east.

92% of graduating BA (Hons) Midwifery Practice students are now providing midwifery care in NHS trusts across the region, including South Tyneside and Sunderland, Newcastle, County Durham and Darlington, North Tees and Hartlepool and Northumbria Healthcare.

Enrolling in 2022, midwifery graduates have come to the end of their journey at the University after gaining the skills over the last three years that they need to help support families.

These midwifery graduates are now joining hundreds more as they cross the stage at the University’s 2026 winter ceremonies at the Fire Station this week.

Midwifery graduate Nicola Bamling 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 also 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.”

Graduates in gowns throwing their caps on a stage

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 said: “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 I 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.”

The University of Sunderland offers a range of healthcare-related courses, including Medicine, Nursing and Paramedic Science and Out of Hospital Care to help address the skills gap within the NHS.

Jane Anderson, Director of Midwifery at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, shared: "We are delighted to welcome the University of Sunderland’s first graduating midwives into the profession and into our local NHS workforce.

“Midwifery is both a privilege and a responsibility and these new colleagues bring fresh energy, compassion and dedication to our teams. We look forward to supporting them as they begin their careers and to seeing the positive impact they will have on the families in our communities."

Sarah Fairbairn, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for Midwifery Practice at the University, said: ‘‘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, said: “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.”

If you’re interested in studying Midwifery Practice at the University of Sunderland, find out more here: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/study/nursing-midwifery/midwifery-practice/