Call the midwives – they have been given a top award

FIRST-time mothers throughout North East Lincolnshire are benefiting from an award-winning midwifery team in the area.

The Community Midwifery Team has won a Creating Valued Partnership award for its work with council children's centres.

​GLOWING AWARD: Members of the Community Midwifery Team, pictured with, standing centre left, Lynda Waters, acting community manager, Joanne Hewson, deputy director of children's health and family services and Julie Dixon, acting operational matron, with their Create Valued Partnerships Award. Also pictured are mothers, from left, Katherine Cioni, with Gabriel Cioni, 21 weeks, Suzzanah Smith, with Ruby Fynes, 5 weeks, Dawn Gallagher, with Maisy Gallagher, 5 weeks, and Jemma Taylor, with Rafe Reilly, 7 months. Picture: Rick Byrne.

Made up of community midwives and midwifery support workers from the Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital, they have brought post and ante-natal clinics to 13 children centres across the borough over the past four years.



The work they provide in the community replaced the old system where parents had to wait in for the midwife to visit.

Now, families can make a choice and meet their midwife at a place convenient to them and see the same one before and after birth.

Jemma Taylor gave birth to son Rafe Reilly seven months ago.

She had problems breastfeeding him and blamed herself for it.

"Without the support of the Community Midwifery Team I do not think I would have coped," she said.

"Rafe is my first child and, like any mum, I wanted everything to be perfect.

"I struggled emotionally thinking there was something wrong with me, which was why he would not breastfeed.

"However, the midwife stuck by me giving me reassurance.

"Thankfully everything was fine, we switched to a bottle and he took to it straight away.

"I felt so much happier knowing the team was there to call on."

The Community Midwifery Team can also point parents in the direction of various services that can help with everyday life.

Katherine Cioni had her first child, Gabriel Cioni, 21 weeks ago.

As a single parent, the team guided her to receive benefits so she would be financially stable.

She said: "I am really grateful for all their help. They made having a child that extra bit special.

"Even after Gabriel was born they carried on supporting me, making home visits."

Delighted with the award, Julie Dixon, acting operational matron for the Community Midwifery Team, said: "It is testimony to how well the team members have worked together to achieve this improved service for the woman and their families.

"Partnership working is vital within maternity care to ensure women receive the support they need.

"We are constantly expanding our services and reaching out to more women prior to and after birth.

"We are pleased to be introducing women into children's centres at an early stage of their pregnancy."

For more information about midwifery and other services at children centres, call the family information service on 0800 1830317.
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