19th February 2010
Newcastle midwives win top UK midwifery award
Two midwives from Newcastle Hospitals have won one of the UK’s top midwifery prizes at theRoyal College of Midwives (RCM) Annual Awards. Jayne Welch, a senior midwife and Barbara Hanson, a midwife and bereavment counsellor scooped theNational Maternity Support Foundation (NMSF) Award for Bereavement Care for their work at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The awards are the UK’s most prestigious midwifery awards, and were held in London on 27th January, 2010.
Jayne and Barbara developed a service for parents who have lost a child during pregnancy and childbirth. Among many initiatives they organised a streamlined service for bereaved parents, and also set-up a customised suite within the delivery suite at the Trust for the sole use of parents suffering the loss of a child. They also have plans to expand and improve the service by doing further training for midwives and making more improvements to the facilities.
The judges were impressed by this family-centred model of care, allied with a
clear strategy for taking the service forward. Training was also seen as particularly important for both student and midwife. Evidence of positive feedback from parents using the service was very strong.
Cathy Warwick, General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “This award for Jayne and Barbara highlights the important, innovative and pioneering work being done in Newcastle and I congratulate them both and all of their team. 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 and better care for women.”
Andrew Canter, Chairman of the NMSF, said: “We are delighted that Barbara and Jaynehave won the inaugural RCM bereavement care award. They should be extremely proud of their pioneering work in this important and challenging area of maternity care. We were deeply impressed by their passion, dedication and commitment to bereavement midwife care and feel confident that the scholarship to be awarded as part of the prize will help take them to the next level of care.”
Chris Wilkinson, Head of Midwifery and Directorate Manager of Women’s Services at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Through their hard work and visionary approach Jayne and Barbara have demonstrated many initiatives which support bereaved parents. We are delighted that they have received the award in recognition of this fantastic work which gives much needed support to bereaved parents at a very difficult time. At Newcastle Hospitals we take pride in delivering healthcare at its very best with a personal touch and this award exemplifies a patient-centred approach by a very caring team.”
Ends
For further information, in the first instance, please contact:
Karen Large - Tel: 0191 2137175Email: karen.large@nuth.nhs.uk Or Deborah Mullinder - Tel: 0191 2231543 Email: Deborah.mullinder@nuth.nhs.uk. For more information also contact the RCM Press Office on 020 7312 3456.
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 2010 awards are the eighth Royal College of Midwives Annual Midwifery Awards. Prizes are given across 13 categories. There is also an award for Midwife of the Year - The Johnson’s baby Mums’ Midwife of the Year - and two midwives will also receive an educational bursary (the Ruth Davis Awards). The winners will be announced at a ceremony attended by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal – Patron of The Royal College of Midwives - on 27th January 2010 at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London.
The National Maternity Support Foundation Award for Bereavement Careprovides a scholarship or scholarships to enablemidwives with at least five years’ experience toundertake training in bereavement care with the aim ofpractising as a bereavement counsellor in a maternity setting.
