A beloved midwife and RCM steward has retired after more than four decades of dedication to RCM members across Scotland.
Janett Sneddon began her NHS career in 1975 as a student midwife at Bangour General Hospital in West Lothian, before spending six years in Leicester – where she also took her first steps as an RCM steward.
On returning to Scotland in 1988 at Falkirk Royal, Janett was asked to lend her activist experience to her local RCM branch for a few months. That temporary arrangement lasted a further 38 years.
Since then, Janett has supported and represented hundreds, if not thousands, of RCM members individually and collectively, guiding them through some of the most significant periods of change in NHS Scotland’s history.
These included the introduction of partnership working legislation, through which she became one of the first Health Board employee directors in a staff-side lead role, the transition from General Whitley Council to Agenda for Change and Job Evaluation and the merger of two maternity units.
In 2017, her outstanding contribution was formally recognised when she was shortlisted for the RCM Members’ Champion Award.
Looking back over her varied career Janett’s proudest achievements include her work in the early pregnancy assessment service – Falkirk being one of the first places in Scotland to have such a unit.
Janett, said: “Being a midwife is about being there for families in the happy times, but also being there in the not so happy times and supporting women through those difficult moments.
“I am really proud of the work I did in the early pregnancy unit. Being able to support those women and give them the care to get them through their next pregnancy was so rewarding.
“I have loved being able to support staff and make sure their voice is heard and that they get the best outcome – that has always been so important to me. I must have helped so many members over the years and the heartwarming moments are when people say they remember you years later.”
Emma Currer, RCM National Officer for Scotland, paid tribute to Janett’s enormous contribution.
She said: “Janett has not only been a passionate, friendly, approachable, knowledgeable, tenacious and responsive advocate for midwifery and RCM members, but a critical part of the wider staff side arena.
“She has given support, advice and wisdom to many other Trade Union reps over the decades, supporting Job Evaluation and undertaken many staff side lead roles in health board forums and workstreams.
“Janett will be sorely missed by the RCM Scotland team and the RCM Forth Valley Branch and we wish her a very well-deserved long, happy and healthy retirement.”
In a sign that her passion for the RCM remains undimmed, Janett has suggested she may continue to support the branch as its treasurer, even in retirement.
