Seeing the signs of success

Gillian Smith, director of the RCM UK Board for Scotland.

Cathy comes to visit
RCM general secretary Cathy Warwick visited the west of Scotland in August. The trip started at the Ayrshire Maternity Unit at Crosshouse Hospital in Ayrshire where she was shown around by the head of midwifery (HoM), Angela Cunningham, and had the opportunity to meet midwives and academics over lunch. She then moved on to Dumfries where HoM Joyce Reekie gave some background on the services provided there. Cathy was interested in the fact that a fully functioning obstetric unit carries on without an epidural service. However, the women are made aware of this before they book.

The second day began with Liz Terrace, clinical services manager in Glasgow and the first stop was Southern General Hospital, with a presentation on Glasgow and Clyde’s services and discussion around some of the challenges. After the Southern General, it was off to the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital where Cathy toured the unit before moving on to Wishaw General Hospital in Lanarkshire. HoM Susan Stewart showed Cathy around and explained about the labour, delivery, recovery and postpartum rooms and the challenges faced due to large pockets of deprivation. Over afternoon tea, Cathy met more midwives and learnt about some of their initiatives. It was great to see what good work is going on in Scotland.

Loss of a friend
On a sadder note, the midwives of Fife turned out to say farewell to midwife Pamela Cooke. A very popular dedicated midwife, Pamela was passionate about the care women received. Alongside Doreen Brunton, this enthusiasm contributed to the midwifery-led unit winning the RCM Bounty award in 2007/8 for promoting normality. Pamela will be remembered for her sense of humour, inability to say ‘no’, and her lack of time management, which was legendary. She faced her last illness with enormous fortitude; a lesson for all to laugh as well as work hard. She is much missed by all who knew her.