Staff across the Queen Elizabeth Hospital have been marking the International Day of the Midwife and saying thank you to their colleagues.
In 2022 Team QEH midwives welcomed 2,033 babies into the world, that’s, on average, 169 babies a month, with around five babies being delivered every day. Midwives support women throughout their pregnancies as well as during and after their babies are born.
Helen Blanchard, Interim Chief Nurse at the QEH, said: “Today, as we celebrate International Day of the Midwife – I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our midwives here at Team QEH for the difference they make to women and their families.
“Today is a chance to reflect on the amazing contribution they make to the lives of hundreds of families every year. A chance to celebrate their achievements as well as to look to the future for how we continue to put our midwives at the centre of the maternity services we provide. Thank you, to all our midwives, for all you do and will continue to do.”
As a celebration of the day, midwives at the QEH will be treated to cake deliveries throughout the weekend as a small way of thanking them for their hard work.
Emily Holmes has been a midwife for two years after she decided to retrain after working as a hairdresser for 10 years. Emily joined Team QEH in January this year and tells us why she loves her job: “I love being a midwife. I love supporting families, making them feel valued and giving them the best possible start in life. I felt I wanted more from my work so decided to become a midwife – I’ve never looked back!”
Being a midwife, or a maternity support worker, is perhaps one of the most fulfilling and rewarding careers you could choose. Supporting women throughout and after their pregnancies and bringing new life into the world, midwives learn a variety of skills whilst on the job.
Basit Uthman is one of Team QEH newest trainee midwives and this is his first role within the NHS.
Speaking about his journey into midwifery, Trainee Midwife Basit said: “I have always known that I wanted to support and care for people, being there for them when they needed it most. Fast forward to my college acceptance, I had the opportunity to study midwifery – I fell in love with it as a career choice. I just knew I was on the right path.”
