Virginia Planas

Virginia first studied nursing at the Autonoma University of Madrid qualifying in 2003. She then went on to work in the radiotherapy department at the MD Anderson Oncological Centre of Madrid and at the Intensive Care Unite in Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow; after her arrival in the UK November 2003. Virginia graduated as a midwife from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, in July 2006 and proceeded to work in Cambridge University Hospital Rosie Maternity until August 2018. She has worked in all areas of the maternity and was a clinical development facilitator for several years prior to having her children. Since 2009 she has work as a midwifery sister in the Delivery Unit and remains as a bank midwife to this day.

After having spent such a large proportion of her career in a high-risk setting, Virginia has seen first-hand the positive impact that midwives can have on the overall experience of the mother-to-be. She is passionate about providing the best possible care to all woman, regardless of their level of complexity, and believes midwives have a responsibility to be able to facilitate this. With this in mind she decided to change the focus of her career and become a lecturer, joining the midwifery team at University of Suffolk as a lecturer in September 2018 and hopes to be able to pass on her expertise to help develop and grow the midwifery workforce of the future.

Virginia is half way through her Masters in Advance Midwifery Practice and will commence her Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice in January 2019. She hopes to have qualified with both by end of 2021.

INTERESTS

Virginia is interested in the dynamics of the multidisciplinary team and how midwives are a key element in the provision of care to high risk woman. The development of a fluid workforce with open ended communication between specialities and the human factors contributing to the provision of care are all areas that she hopes to investigate and research further. Virginia believes that student midwives have a key role in this multidisciplinary team and must be supported and encouraged to be the best possible version of themselves. As a link midwife to West Suffolk Hospital, Virginia will be liaising with the team, making sure that the students have a positive, nourishing and encouraging experience while caring for women and their families.