Iidil Merlini has been appointed Midwife Educator & Quality Coordinator. Iidil will work to maintain the highest standards of quality and safety in the maternity services provided in Tairāwhiti.
Iidil played a significant role in the successful re-accreditation of Gisborne Hospital to the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI).
About Iidil
"I was born in Arezzo, Italy, and lived in London for several years before moving “back home” to Gisborne six years ago with my husband and three daughters.
"I qualified as a midwife in the UK in 2008 where I worked both as a community midwife and in busy inner city tertiary hospitals in London. I have been working at Hauora Tairāwhiti as a Core Midwife since October 2011. In 2012 I also took on the role of Clinical Tutor with Wintec for the Gisborne-based midwifery students.
"In 2014 I started to contribute to Hauora Tairāwhiti staff education on breastfeeding and later in the year qualified as an International Board Qualified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). In the same year, I also had the pleasure of regularly meeting many of our hapū wahine and their whānau while teaching Parenting Classes for Tūranga Health.
"In 2015-2016 I took the lead in coordinating the BFHI and ensuring that our mama and pēpi are supported in the best way possible to choose, commence and maintain breastfeeding as well as ensuring Hauora Tairāwhiti would meet the requirements for BFHI re-accreditation.
"I am currently undertaking post-graduate study in Complex Midwifery Care at Victoria University thanks to Health Workforce New Zealand funding as well as Adult Tertiary Education certificate through Open Polytechnic."