National Chief Midwife awards recognises KGH staff for their commitment to good care

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Delivering continuous care to families with staff they know highlighted

A Kettering General Hospital midwife and a KGH team that supports families having caesarean sections have won national awards from England’s top midwife.

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And on August 20 England’s Chief Midwifery Officer, Kate Brintworth, presented her National Silver Awards to both Community Midwifery Support Lead, Mary Grey, and to members of the Elective Caesarean Section Team.

The Chief Midwifery Officer’s silver award recognises performance that goes above and beyond the expectations of the everyday role that the midwife is expected to perform and demonstrates excellence in service development and practice.

England's Chief Midwifery Officer, Kate Brintworth, presents the Silver Award to Mary Grey.England's Chief Midwifery Officer, Kate Brintworth, presents the Silver Award to Mary Grey.
England's Chief Midwifery Officer, Kate Brintworth, presents the Silver Award to Mary Grey.

Mary was nominated for her award by KGH Midwifery Matron Catherine Betts.

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In her nomination, read out by Kate Brintworth to many of her colleagues gathered in the hospital’s Trust Board Room, it outlined how Mary led the hospital’s first continuity of care midwifery team in 2019 and has championed the concept ever since.

“Mary has proven to be an exceptional leader, one who is well respected by her peers and team. Her dedication to the continuity of care model is outstanding, she has a real passion for delivering high quality care whilst building relationships with the women we care for and their families, overall improving outcomes for mothers and babies.

“The one team then grew to include three community teams and our hybrid team the elective caesarean section team. “(During Covid) Mary’s belief that continuity of care is the ‘gold standard’ of maternity care shone through, she supported with changes to working patterns for the teams.

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Kate Brintworth, presents the Award to members of the Elective Caesarean Section Team.Kate Brintworth, presents the Award to members of the Elective Caesarean Section Team.
Kate Brintworth, presents the Award to members of the Elective Caesarean Section Team.

“Mary is immensely passionate and has been known to attend and support women and junior midwives in her own time, to support women and their birth choices and to also ensure they receive continuity. She is a true role model, never asking others to do something she would not do herself; she has proven herself to be caring and compassionate, supporting many staff during her role as a team lead.”

Kate then went on to present awards to the Elective Caesarean Section Team which comprises Wendy Eady, Hannah Crockatt, Tracy Chapman, Emma Alinejad and Alice Steadman (not present on the day). Also present from the team and acknowledged for their roles were Midwife Support Workers Mandy Hobbs and Lorraine Preedy.

The team was nominated by Midwifery Matron Aimee Nightingale and part of her nomination reads:

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“The maternity services at Kettering General Hospital (KGH), sought to find an innovative and dedicated team of midwives and healthcare assistants which would provide the continuity of care model for people that were delivering by caesarean section. The team have engaged in the continuity of care way of working wonderfully as they are passionate and dedicated in putting their families at the front of their working day.

“Rosters are populated to support the needs of the birthing people, so no family feels that their journey is rushed. The team have developed daily clinics which support the choice of birthing options as well as providing preparation clinics which enables a seamless birthing journey and experience. Families can see a dedicated member of the team at each of their appointments and can contact the team directly to answer any concerns or questions throughout their pregnancy. The team are able to provide this outstanding gold standard of care. They go above and beyond in providing safe and quality patient-focused care.”

Kettering General Hospital’s Director of Midwifery Mara Tonks said: “I am absolutely delighted to see Mary and our Elective Caesarean Section Team’s amazing work being recognised at a national level with these Silver Awards.

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“Both Mary and my colleagues in the Elective Caesarean Section Team have worked so hard to ensure that mothers-to-be and their families get continuous support from people they know throughout their pregnancy journey and beyond.

“It was fantastic to see their considerable efforts recognised and their awards delivered in front of their peers and leading members of the NHS’s maternity team.”

Also at the presentation were Regional Chief Midwife, Sandra Smith, National Maternity Improvement Advisor, Lesley Heelbeck, National Clinical Director, Donald Peebles, Deputy Director for the Maternity and Neonatal Programme, Steve Anderson, and Director of Nursing from the ICB Mandy Staples.

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