QHB maternity team given award for compassion shown to new parents | Latest news

QHB maternity team given award for compassion shown to new parents

The maternity team at QHB have won a Making a Difference Award

A team of maternity staff who provide care and compassion for people in labour, have been given an award for making a difference.

The Maternity team at Queen’s Hospital Burton, were presented with June’s CEO Making a Difference Award by Interim Chief Executive Officer Magnus Harrison, who called the team “a credit to UHDB.”

He said: “I am really happy to be able to present you with this award.

“It was moving reading what patients had to say in the nomination.

“The job you do is momentous and you play such a special part in what is often the happiest day of your patients’ lives.”

The team was nominated by Nikki and Lauren Hughes who were blown away by the care and compassion they received when daughter Harper was born in May this year.

Nikki said that the team “invested” in the couple throughout Lauren’s pregnancy and her labour and they wanted to recognise them for their kindness and professionalism.

She said: “Everyone was brilliant and we had the best midwife for delivery, she was amazing.

“I don’t think people realise how much midwives do, it’s so much more than just being there. They invest in you.

“Everyone we saw on the delivery suite was great, we couldn’t fault them.”

Clare Pugh, Senior Midwife on the Delivery Suite, said the award was a surprise but a welcome boost for the team who have been working hard, especially during the pandemic.

She said: “I think this will be a really lovely boost for our staff who work so hard. Our midwives are incredible and they really make a difference to people’s lives. But we are also lucky enough to have incredible doctors and maternity support workers who play a vital part in the work we do.

“Our team supports families through both the happy and sad times and it can be stressful but it is also very rewarding. Our colleagues always give so much care and I am proud to work alongside them.

“It is a privilege to be there when babies are born and this award is something we didn’t expect but we are so pleased about.”

Karen McIlWrath, Community Matron, said the award “will mean a lot” to her colleagues and the relationship patients have with midwives is “powerful.”

She said: “It is amazing when we talk to women who had babies 20 years ago and they remember what their midwife looked like or what they said to them during labour - it is so powerful and that is why we do the job we do, because it means something to these families.”

If you would like to nominate a colleague or team for a Monthly Making a Difference Award, please let us know.

There are four monthly Making a Difference Awards categories:

  • Chief Executive Award – chosen by our CEO
  • Patient Hero Award – nominated by patients
  • Team UHDB Award – you can nominate your team or another team
  • Excellent Employee Award – you can nominate your colleagues

You can send a 300 word nomination, along with the name of the team or individual, their job title and where they work, to: uhdb.employeeawards@nhs.net.

Nominations for our annual Making a Difference Awards are also now open.

This is a fantastic opportunity to nominate colleagues or teams and shine a light on the exceptional work that happens every day across the Trust.

We have 10 categories open for nominations, when the nominations close they will be reviewed by a judging panel who will score entries against criteria that link to our vision and values. 

To nominate: Email your completed nomination form which are available here > to uhdb.employeeawards@nhs.net by Midnight on 7 August 2022.

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