BJM Midwifery Practice Awards 2011

The British Journal of Midwifery celebrated the International Day of the Midwife by holding the eighth successive BJM Clinical Practice Awards on 5 May 2011 at the Palace Hotel, Manchester. The BJM awards aim to recognize initiative and enterprise in midwifery practice, and to reward midwives who have achieved outstanding success. The standard of entries was exceptionally high and the judges would like to thank all those who nominated themselves or others. Hosted by the renowned comedy actress, Ella Kenion, the event was a great success and I am delighted to announce the winners of each of the seven categories.

Our lifetime achievement award winner is a highly respected midwife whose longstanding work, which spans 36-years, is held in very high esteem. Her career began as a cadet nurse in the National Health Service after leaving school in 1968. She entered nursing school two years later, training to be a state registered nurse.

The advice of her mentor and nurse tutor was to follow midwifery otherwise she would not be considered properly trained, and she entered the Sister Dora Midwifery School in 1974. A year later and 150 births under her belt, she became an SCM and enjoyed her midwifery experience in all aspects of care including neonates.

Her roles have included labour ward manager, GP unit manager, community midwife, caseload team midwife, head of midwifery services, and consultant midwife. As a consultant midwife, she has supported and opened birthing centres and established home birth services. She was awarded her first degree in 1996 and MSc in 2000.

She has been a supervisor of midwives at University College London Hospitals where she continues to contribute to supporting women during their antenatal care and birth and improving the skills of midwives. Her working life has focused on improving the quality of midwifery care for the benefit of women and their families. Her love and passion for midwifery still continues and she cherishes the role as a clinical hands-on midwife. Annalisa Barbieri, columnist with The Guardian national newspaper, stated of our lifetime achievement winner: 'She makes women feel empowered. She is a wonderful mix of 'old fashioned midwife' and cutting edge research. Every midwife should aspire to be like her - she makes you feel anything nature intended is possible.'