A MIDWIFERY lecturer will travel to the other side of the globe in a bid to learn more about the practice.

Cathryn Britton, who is from York, is one of seven women in Yorkshire to receive a Churchill Fellowship, allowing her to visit Australia and New Zealand to carry out research.

She will explore midwifery in the Southern Hemisphere countries in the hope of learning how it can be done better in the UK on her return.

She said: “During these visits I hope to explore approaches to using simulation in practice which can enhance confidence in clinical practice.

“Some centres use ‘cloud based’ learning to support learning; I am interested to see how this is developed and to discuss the benefits and challenges that students experience.

“I will also meet heads of Midwifery Services to explore strategies for retaining newly qualified midwives in the workforce.”

The fellowship is awarded by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, which was set up when the former Prime Minister died in 1965.

The other winners include a charity worker, a trainee in neonatal medicine and a head teacher, and their issues range from preventing re-offending to caring for premature babies.

Together they will receive grants totalling more than £46,000 and travel to 12 countries across five continents.

Julia Weston, Chief Executive of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (WCMT), said: “Churchill Fellows search the world for ways to improve their communities and professions. Our next round of grants opening on 27 April.”

To apply go to wcmt.org.uk