KGH Midwife Shortlisted for National NHS Hero Award
A community midwife from Kettering General Hospital was shortlisted for a national NHS hero award for the amazing support she has provided for a local family.
Serena Smith, 38, from Wellingborough, was nominated in the Best Midwife category of The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Award. https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/6676765/nhs-heroes-who-cares-wins/
The Award was launched in July to recognise the work done – day-in and day-out – by NHS staff across the country in the service’s 70th anniversary year.
Serena was nominated for the outstanding care she delivered to a local mum, Kelly Taylor, and her new born son, Jasper, two years ago. She was shortlisted down to the national top three for the award – in a category which had thousands of entries.
Mum Kelly, 36, from Wellingborough, said: “Right from our first appointment I knew that I was confident, comfortable and relaxed with Serena as my community midwife. That was so important because I was a first time mum and I needed quite a bit of reassurance.
“She was very open and honest and obviously knew her stuff. She enabled me to choose where I gave birth and when I had a concern close to Jasper’s birth she arranged for an additional scan and I was reassured. After his birth I also had some questions and she was always there for me – and even came to see me in her own time.
“On one occasion I was having a breakdown over breastfeeding my son, and if she hadn’t come over - off duty and after she had discharged me - then I don’t know what would have happened that day. It was scary. She took the time to check up on me in the following days too.
“She really did demonstrate a commitment and dedication over an extended period of time and I know she does it for a whole load of her ladies too. She was a tremendous support to me and my family. She just went so far above and beyond what you would have expected of a community midwife.”
Serena, herself a mother-of-three, came to midwifery later than most qualifying four years ago and working as a community midwife at KGH for the last three years.
She said: “I had worked in many different jobs while raising my three children Kaci, 18, Alysha, 17, and Landen, 10, with my husband Anthony.
“But I had always wanted to be a midwife and I thought ‘life’s too short’ - so I started again as a student with the University of Bedford and did my training at Luton and Dunstable.
“It just clicked for me. To me it is almost not like work. I go out and see my patients and have a good chat and help steer them through a very special moment in their life.
“I knew I was quite an empathetic person and I thought ‘the rest I can learn’ - and I have.”
Community midwives are assigned to support mums-to-be and their families throughout pregnancy and for up to 28 days afterwards.
Serena said: “I think Kelly nominated me because I went a bit above and beyond the normal care. We spoke whenever she needed to and I was able to support her quite closely until she had established breast feeding.”
Kettering General Hospital’s Lead Midwife, Polly Leigh, said: “We are thrilled that Serena was nominated for the Who Care Wins Awards and even more delighted that she made it through to the last three in her category.
“Serena is a very committed and caring individual who works as a valued member of the community team. She is a credit to the profession and demonstrates all of the Trust’s CARE values of being compassionate, accountable, respectful and engaging.”