A Maternity Support Worker at the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre at Burnley General Teaching Hospital has scooped a top UK award for her innovative work to improve maternity services, promote normal births and support her midwifery colleagues.
Keelie Barrett, from Burnley, is joint winner of the Royal College of Midwifery (RCM) Members’ Champion Award sponsored by Thompsons Solicitors, and was presented with her award at the Royal College of Midwives Annual Midwifery Awards ceremony in London.
Angela O’Toole, Head of Midwifery at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I am delighted and extremely proud of our Keelie who, along with our dedicated team of highly-skilled professionals, provide such fantastic care to our mums and their families.
“Winning this award acknowledges Keelie’s excellent work and her commitment to providing safe, personal and effective care to mothers, babies and families.
“The RCM Awards recognise the very best maternity services in the country, so we are delighted to win one award and be shortlisted for two more.”
Keelie is particularly passionate about the promotion of health and wellbeing for staff at work, and the way in that this supports better care for women, babies and their families. She worked in partnership with the trust and the head of midwifery around signing the RCM’s Caring for You Charter. This commits ELHT to looking after the health and wellbeing of staff.
Delighted award winner Keelie, said: “I was absolutely amazed when my name was announced as the Members Champion – it was a wonderful surprise! It’s fantastic to be recognised by the Royal College in this way and a real honour to win the Thompsons Champion Award.
“I have a great job which I really enjoy, is very rewarding and I love working with all my colleagues at the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre and being able to support them as an accredited trade union representative.”
Stephen Cavalier, Chief Executive of Thompsons Solicitors said: “Thompsons is proud to sponsor the RCM Members’ Champion award which highlights the excellent work done by RCM reps throughout the UK. It is fantastic that this year’s award focuses on the link between improving health and wellbeing of midwifery staff and improving care for mothers and babies.
“Congratulations to Keelie on her thoroughly deserved award. Her imaginative initiatives on health and safety have made a real difference to her colleagues and their working environment.”
Among her many initiatives Keelie organised a walk-round with a health and safety "pop up shop". This advertised health and wellbeing initiatives already in place at the Trust, and contained RCM specific information booklets launched as part of its Caring for You campaign. The "shop" was also a "pit stop" of bottled water and fruit given out to staff, supporting them to deliver even better care.
Gill Walton, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “This award celebrates the work of our workplace representatives and their value to the workplace and our members. In Keelie we have a wonderful example of someone who cares deeply about the welfare of the RCM members she represents. Equally she sees the direct connection between caring for staff leading to better care for women and babies. She is truly an asset to her trust, the profession and the RCM.”
The RCM Awards 2018 also recognised the high quality of East Lancashire’s maternity services and staff with Midwife and Baby Friendly Team Co-ordinator Sue Henry shortlisted in the JOHNSON'S® Award for Excellence in Maternity Care and Keelie’s Postnatal Maternity Support Worker colleagues shortlisted in the Maternity Support Worker of the Year category.