Julie Haigh has scooped one of three Pampers’ Student Vision awards, winning funding towards a fortnight visit to two hospitals in Long Island, New York.

The award will help fund an elective placement to gain greater understanding about childbirth in a medicalised and insurance-driven culture. Julie will learn how American midwives learn to provide normal birth in a litigious society.

She received her award at a ceremony in the Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden. The RCM’s chief executive Cathy Warwick attended the ceremony which was hosted by the journalist and broadcaster Natasha Kaplinsky.

Julie said: “I am thrilled to receive this award and the opportunities available to me as a result. I would like to thanks to Pampers, the RCM and my tutors for demonstrating commitment to the development of my experiences in becoming a qualified midwife.”

Dr Gillian Marsh, technical external relations manager at Pampers, which sponsors the student award, said: “Pampers understands the important role that midwives play in society. That’s why we are proud to support an award such as this, which recognises the hard work that students like Julie are doing towards developing practices across the world so that mothers and their babies get the best service possible.”

Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the RCM, said: “This award highlights the important, innovative and pioneering international work being done by students like Julie. I congratulate her on her commitment to the profession.

“It is important for people to know that midwifery education is not standing still and is constantly evolving. When student midwives are given the resources, support and freedom to develop their work and learning, the result is empowered midwives and better services, better care and better outcomes for mothers, babies and their families.”

(Julie is second from right in photo.)