Does anyone know what "Foundation" means when on a midwife's badge?

[theghostofmargerykempe]

Hi all,

Random question, but having been seen by someone who was not my usual midwife at 28 week appointment today, I'm curious to know what it could mean that in addition to the normal NHS name badge, she had a bright green badge that said "Foundation" pinned to her lanyard (no other words, just "Foundation").

Could this mean that she was in fact a student on the foundation year of a midwifery course, or am I way off?

She wouldn't be a student, they have different uniform and have to clearly identify themselves as students. She's probably newly qualified

Ah, thanks @Countrylifeornot! No uniforms (none of the midwives I've seen have ever been wearing one), which makes it a bit trickier to tell.

I think it’ll mean she’s a first year newly qualified midwife..

Students have to be accompanied, not at all times, especially towards the end of their degree but there must be a fully qualified midwife available to you as well.

Foundation degrees are entry level before stepping up to the three year course, so def not that if she was on her own! I did one year of a midwifery degree and in the first year, we were always with our midwife mentors. Occasionally, I was allowed to ‘run’ an antenatal clinic but my mentor was always in the room.

Thanks @Bol87! That makes sense.

The person with the "Foundation" badge said that she was filling in for the appointment because the actual midwife I was supposed to see was moving her car so it didn't get towed (!). She then went on to do something that concerned me a bit (tried to end the appointment without having given me the anti-D I was scheduled to get: when I mentioned it looked surprised and said "Oh, are you Rhesus-negative then?").

Just trying to figure out how upset/concerned I should be about all this and what else she might have missed...