Publish date: 3 May 2024
Ahead of the day, one of the Trust's Community Midwives, Michelle McNish, has spoken about her career and what it means to her.
Michelle has worked as a midwife for six-and-a-half years, but been employed by the Trust for the last 25 years working in various departments including Medical Records and as an Audiologist.
After having children and looking for a change, Michelle retrained as a midwife and never looked back. She explained: “I work with such an amazing team and everyone is so hard working passionate and inspiring.
"For the last four years I’ve worked in the community where I have provided amazing continuity of care with the pregnant women and their families looking after them from booking their pregnancy, antenatally, some lovely homebirths and postnatally. Some women I’m now supporting through their third baby and I have got to know the women and their families.”
Recently Michelle was shortlisted as a finalist for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals' People's Health Hero award, part of the annual staff awards and an award voted for by the public.
Michelle added: “It means so much to me that a patient has taken the time to nominate me. It is lovely to have this recognition and is a lovely way to end my role as a Community Midwife.”
Soon Michelle will be taking on a new role as the Lead Midwife for Maternal Medicine. Her new role will involve overseeing those pregnant ladies with conditions such as diabetes, cardiac problems or thyroid epilepsy.
Celebrations for International Day of the Midwife are taking place across the globe and NHS England is encouraging people to show their support by entering a Park Run event this weekend.
International Day of the Midwife is on 5 May and was established in 1992 by the International Confederation of Midwives to celebrate and raise awareness about the midwifery profession.
Chief Nursing Officer for England Dame Ruth May, Chief Midwifery Officer for England Kate Brintworth and parkrun UK are encouraging nurses and midwives, plus their colleagues, patients, friends, and family to take part in a parkrun event. Both Dame Ruth and Kate will be taking part.
parkrun UK is a health and wellbeing charity which hosts events every Saturday morning at over 1,240 locations across the UK. The events are free and open to people of all ages and abilities.
Taking part is a great way for midwives and nurses to celebrate IDM and IND and take pride in their profession. It’s also a way for their colleagues, patients, friends and family or NHS volunteers to thank and recognise midwives and nurses.
To find out more about parkrun events and to register, click here.
