The work of midwives, maternity support workers (MSWs) and midwifery teams from across the UK has been recognised and rewarded at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Awards which took place in London today.
No less than 14 awards were handed out, across categories including maternity safety, perinatal mental health care for women, diversity and inclusion in maternity services and teamwork. Those who are the UK’s future midwifery workforce were also acknowledged in the student of the year category.
During her speech, the RCM’s Chief Executive, Gill Walton said;
“Collectively and individually, we are the guardians of good maternity care. We are advocates for women. We are their supporters and guides through the most transformative time in their lives. That is a lot to carry, but it’s privilege to do so. All of us involved in maternity care and midwifery education are part of a community. All of us are working towards the same goal: to ensure women have the best, most appropriate care and support during pregnancy, labour, birth, and the postnatal period.
“I want all of us, this whole brilliant midwifery community, to take pride in what we do, to celebrate the small things that make a big difference. And there is no better day than today to start celebrating. Every person, every team that has been shortlisted has done something extraordinary.”
Hosted by TV star and former Loose Woman Andrea McLean, the awards celebrated the dedication, energy and passion of all those shortlisted towards improving the care they are delivering to women and their families. This year a new award category, ‘The Gill Adgie Members Champion Award’, has been added in honour of a well-respected colleague who passed away during 2023 having done so much to support RCM members and champion improvements across services.
The 2024 RCM Award winners are as follows:
- Partnership Working Award – The Nurture Clinic, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim
- Maternity Support Worker of the Year Award – Kerry Horley, University Hospitals Dorset
- Student Midwife of the Year – Kayty Richards, University of Derby
- Race Matters Unsung Hero Midwife or HEI Staff Award, Josephine Oamen UCLH
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Alison Callwood University of Surrey
- The Gill Adgie Members Champion Award – Kirsten Herdman, South Tyneside and Sunderland
- Outstanding contribution to Maternity Services: Digital – Ask a midwife team, Humber and North Yorkshire Local Maternity and Neonatal system
- Outstanding Contribution to Maternity Services: Improving Safety & Quality of Care – Maternity Assessment Unit, Maternity Assessment Unit
- Outstanding Contribution to Maternity Services: Pregnancy loss and Bereavement Care – Claire Braithwaite, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals
- Outstanding Contribution to Maternity Services: Perinatal Mental Health, Annmarie Thomas, Swansea Bay University Health Board
- Excellence in Midwifery for Public Health – Jemima Ward, Medway Council
- Excellence in Midwifery for Research – The POOL Study team, Cardiff University
- Excellence In Midwifery for Education & Learning – Robyn Dalton, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
- Excellence in Midwifery for Leadership – Kathy Murphy, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
ENDS
To contact the RCM media office call 020 7312 3456 or email media@rcm.org.uk.
Notes to Editors
- For more information on the RCM awards visit here: https://www.rcmawards.com/
- Individual media releases on each winner or winning team available on request, email media@rcm.org.uk.
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance, and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences, and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website www.rcm.org
