How long have you lived on the Isle of Man and what made you move here?

I grew up in the Isle of Man but left to study midwifery at Bangor University in North Wales. After graduating, I worked at Bangor Hospital for several years, but began to feel unchallenged, so decided on a move back to the Island to be closer to my family and to find a role where I could consolidate my skills - however following the outbreak of the pandemic, my plans were put on hold.

It was in September 2021 that an opportunity presented itself when a midwife vacancy became available at Noble’s Hospital. I immediately jumped at the chance, and the Midwifery team at Manx Care couldn’t have been more helpful throughout the recruiting and moving process – it was eight weeks from initial application to being in post on the Island - so very fast!

How would you describe the Isle of Man to someone who has never been?

Having been off-Island for several years I realise now how much I took it for granted before. I enjoy every drive I take now – soaking up the beautiful scenery which is right on my doorstep. I live on my own in a semi-rural area, but I never feel unsafe. I also love how diverse the Manx landscape is – you can walk from the beach to the hills within minutes.

There’s a real sense of community on the Isle of Man – wherever you are, everyone is welcoming, and always looking to help if you are in need.

Tell us about your job – what do you enjoy most about it?

One thing that’s really stood out to me in this role, is how much more time I have with my patients. There’s a real continuity of care at Noble’s Hospital that you wouldn’t get at a bigger maternity unit in the UK. I’ll be responsible for the same patient throughout most, if not all, of the birthing process. There’s evidence to suggest this improves the experience and outcome for mother and baby, and it certainly helps you build a real rapport with patients too.

Being an Island community, I regularly see former patients and their families out and about – we’ll stop for a chat, and they’ll give me an update on the baby’s progress, which is so satisfying as a health professional!

We are a small, close-kit team and although I’ve only been in the role for four months, we’ve bonded very quickly. Everyone is pro-teamwork and collaboration, and I have far more engagement with management here than I ever did in my previous role.

Do you feel there are more career opportunities as a midwife on the Isle of Man?

Absolutely. I have far more autonomy in my role here, and management have been very welcome to new ideas. In the four months I’ve been here, I’ve been able to make suggestions, and implement positive changes (an opportunity I was never really given in the five years I worked in my previous job)– it’s really satisfying to see these adjustments making a difference to the team, the care we give, and our patients’ experience.

The midwifery team are very keen to invest in us and encourage us to look at development courses and further qualifications. I am looking to specialise in Perineal Midwifery, and I have been fully encouraged to apply for funding to do this, as management want to ensure the team’s skillset is as diverse as possible to improve the care we give. My department also create regular ‘development’ positions; short term posts that allow staff to step up and experience a more challenging role.

What other benefits are there to your role?

The salary and benefits on Island are far greater than the equivalent in the UK - I am paid a higher salary here and Manx Care were incredibly supportive in relocating me to the Island, providing me with an attractive relocation package which included up to £7,000 of financial support towards moving costs and solicitor fees. They also kindly committed to subsidising my rental costs for the next two years - which has been a huge help.  We are also given a £1,000 bonus in our 2nd, 13th and 25th pay checks.  

What difference has living on the Isle of Man made to your work-life balance? How do you spend your free time?

My work-life balance is far improved here. I probably live the furthest away you possibly could to the hospital on the Island, but my commute is still only half an hour!

After nearly two years of not seeing my loved ones, it’s great to have regular access to a close network of friends and family. On my days off in the UK, I had to plan everything in advance – sometimes I had to put a full day aside to be able to commit to meeting a friend, or having a day out, whereas here I can afford to be more spontaneous – I can just nip out for a walk, see my sister or my dad. Ballaglass Glen is on my doorstep – everything (and everyone!) is far more accessible here and I feel I have so much more freedom as a result.

What’s the best-kept secret on the Isle of Man?

Its Dark Skies sites – for a small place, there are so many! You can see the stars and the moon so much more clearly here because there is little light pollution.

What opportunities has living on the Isle of Man given you?

Being able to see my family and friends more often and being in beautiful surroundings. The Island is very supportive of local businesses, so I try and only buy local where I can now – which is very easy to do, because so many of the retailers here stock local produce. I even have fresh local milk delivered to my door each morning – the real country life!