25 January 2011
A midwife from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has scooped one of the UK’s top midwifery prizes at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Annual Awards. Jenny Gregory, a midwife at Wansbeck General Hospital in Ashington, received the National Maternity Support Foundation (NMSF) Award for Excellence in Bereavement Care. The award will provide funding for Jake’s Scholarship to enable Jenny to train in bereavement care with the aim of improving care for women and families. Once qualified, she will be designated one of Jake’s Midwives.
Jenny is part of the Teardrop Group, a voluntary group which supports families who have suffered the loss of a baby. Jenny is the link between the hospital’s delivery suite on the maternity unit and the group. She organises an annual Teardrop Ball which, along with a range of other events, helped raise money to refurbish and equip a room on the delivery suite – named The Willow Room – as a peaceful space for bereaved families. She has also worked to streamline the paperwork and administrative processes for bereaved parents.
She also co-ordinates bereavement training days for colleagues and has written new guidelines around bereavement care. Jenny was nominated for the award by midwife colleague Lisa Routledge who praised Jenny’s commitment and the results she has achieved, often in her own time.
The award was presented at the Ninth Royal College of Midwives Annual Midwifery Awards at a ceremony on 19th January 2011, at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London.
Cathy Warwick, General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “This award highlights the important, innovative and pioneering work being done by Jenny, and demonstrates the value of midwifery care. It is important for people to know that midwifery practice does not stand still. When midwives are given the resources, support and freedom to develop their work, the result is better services, better care and better outcomes for mothers, and their families.”
Jenny said: “I am delighted to have won the award – I was so pleased to be nominated and to actually win and be recognised on a national level is absolutely amazing. It is recognition for the whole group’s hard work and dedication over the years to make a difference to families at very difficult times.
“I, and all members of the group, are committed to doing all we can to support these families and make their stay in hospital as comfortable as possible. To have what we do praised is just excellent. I would like to thank everyone for their help and support.”
Ann Wright, director responsible for maternity services at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Congratulations to Jenny on winning this prestigious award. She is an enthusiastic and dedicated midwife and it is thoroughly deserved for all the hard work she has done. As a Trust, we pride ourselves in providing high-quality, safe maternity care for all our patients and giving support to those who find themselves in difficult circumstances.”
Janice McNichol, Head of Midwifery at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I’m really pleased for Jenny - she deserves the award for the excellent work she’s done and it is brilliant news for the unit and maternity services at the Trust.”
Andrew Canter, Chairman of NMSF, said: “We are immensely proud to present Jenny this award. She has shown incredible dedication and passion in this most challenging area of maternity care. We know that Jake’s Scholarship will make a huge difference to Jenny and the parents and families she helps on a daily basis.”
Ends.
For more information contact the RCM Press Office on 020 7312 3456, Jaclyn Curry, Communications Officer at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on 0191 203 1654 or 07833 046680, Andrew Canter, Chairman NMSF, on 07855 447157 or andrew@jakescharity.org; www.jakescharity.org
Notes to editors
The Royal College of Midwives is the voice of midwifery. We are the UK’s only trade union and professional organisation led by midwives for midwives. The vast majority of the midwifery profession are our members. The RCM promotes midwifery, quality maternity services and professional standards. We support and represent our members individually and collectively in all four UK countries. We influence on behalf of our members and for the interests of the women and families for which they care. For more information visit the RCM website at www.rcm.org.uk. The 2011 awards are the ninth Royal College of Midwives Annual Midwifery Awards. Prizes are given across 15 categories. The winners were announced at a ceremony on Wednesday, 19th January 2011 at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London.
National Maternity Support Foundation Award for Bereavement Care - Providing a scholarship or scholarships to enable midwives with at least five years’ experience to undertake training in bereavement care with the aim of practicing as bereavement counselor in a maternity setting.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s maternity services provided have achieved the highest possible safety rating after fulfilling all the stringent quality standards set by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA). The service was awarded Level 3 – the highest rating - following a rigorous external assessment which scrutinised every part of the Trust’s maternity care.
The Trust runs a consultant-led maternity service at Wansbeck General Hospital and midwifery-led units at North Tyneside and Hexham general hospitals and Alnwick and Berwick infirmaries.
