Midwife of the Year 2009

The Mamas & Papas Midwife of the Year Awards 2009 has selected a NHS midwife whose work covers Weeton Army Base in Lancashire as the UK & Eire Midwife of the Year . Stars of Coronation Street and Hollyoaks celebrated midwife Carol Clayton’s victory in recognition of her tireless duty of care to the army base and often delivering the babies of soldiers that have lost their lives in wars without ever seeing their newborn children.

Midwife Carol Clayton was nominted by army base mother Kirsty Charlton, whose husband serves in The King’s Division Army Band, for the ongoing care and compassion she showed the family after their baby Alex Clayton was born with a cleft palette. New mother Kirsty received additional support for the nomination she made for the awards from all the new parents on the army base due to the exemplary care midwife Carol had shown them, including the delivery of infants to women who have spent their whole pregnancy waiting for the return of their soldier partners and in some cases for women who know their partners will never return.

Kirsty Charlton said in her nomination,

“ I am a different women thanks to her. It is not just me who things she is amazing, there is a whole army camp rooting for her. Every single mother on the base has said it is her kind, selfless and compassiontate nature that has helped them through difficult periods of their lives and given them the hope and strenght they needed to carry on.

Carol should be ‘midwife of the century’ but to win Midwife of the Year means as much to us and I am sure it will do to her. We cant thank her enough’’.

Head of Midwifery at Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Pauline Tschobotko, said:

“This is wonderful news for Carol and for the department. She is an experienced, caring and conscientious midwife who is very thorough. Carol is a very calm and assured person and that obviously comes through to her patients because she is extremely well regarded by everyone.’’

The gala luncheon on Wednesday 7th October was hosted by Hollyoaks actress, TV personality and expectant mum-to-be, Terri Dwyer and attended by Coronation Street stars and new parents Tina O’Brien, Jack P Shepherd and Ryan Thomas. Over 150 midwives and parents attended to receive their awards for the 13 UK & Eire regions as well nominations for a Lifetime Acheivement Award and Student Midwife of the Year Award.