Midwives swapped the maternity ward for the corridors of power on Monday to celebrate some of the UK's most outstanding maternity services.
MFM went along to the ceremony at the Houses of Parliament to see five maternity services pick up awards from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Maternity (APPGM).
A further four services were highly commended by the APPGM, which recognises inspiring or innovative work in improving local maternity services.
The awards, now in their 11th year, included a new category for the most inclusive maternity service for new dads.
The Early Intervention Service Midwifery Team from Newham University Hospital NHS Trust in London took home the top prize for its Dadi Day (Dads Are Doing It) workshops.
The other winners were:
- The 2gether weight management in pregnancy programme, Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust
- Cossham Birth Centre, North Bristol Trust
- Diabetes in Pregnancy Service, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust
- West London African Women’s Service, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Trust
The awards were presented by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and sponsored by NCT and Pampers.
NCT Chief executive Belinda Phipps said, “These are all excellent examples of what can be achieved through committed staff, focused work and innovation in services, and we hope they will act as an inspiration to other Trusts around the country.”
Do you think your maternity service deserves to be recognised? Tell us about your experience below.
