Three Mackay Hospital and Health Service midwives have been acknowledged for
their dedication in delivering skilled and compassionate care to women and their families.
Staff from across the MHHS including the Mackay Base Hospital Women’s Health Unit took some time out on Friday to celebrate the midwifery profession and acknowledge the outstanding contributions of their colleagues ahead of International Day of the Midwife on Sunday 5 May.
The Mackay HHS delivers more than 1650 babies every year so it was important
to recognise the vital work midwives do for women, babies and families, Acting
Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Paul McAllister said.
“Having a baby is one of the most significant and memorable events in a parent’s life and midwives play a vital role in helping care for that most precious of gifts,” he said.
International Day of the Midwife is a formal opportunity to recognise midwives’
ongoing commitment to maternal and newborn health and always placing women and families at the centre of care.
At an awards ceremony held at Mackay Base Hospital on Friday, three awards were
presented to staff acknowledging excellence in the profession.
The award recipients were:
• Emerging Midwife Award (postgraduate): Briony Sheahan, Mackay
Women’s Health Unit.
• The Outstanding Nursing and Midwifery and Leadership Award: Victoria
Noyce, Mackay Women’s Health Unit
• Exceptional Midwifery Care Provider Award (consumer/patient
nominated): Nickey Pilgrim, Proserpine Hospital.
Midwifery is a very rewarding career where unique relationships are established with women to make a real difference to their pregnancy, birth and early parenting, Mr
McAllister said.
“Today we congratulate our colleagues and the recipients of these awards and thank all midwives for your dedication to midwifery and the valued role you play in bringing
new life into the world,” he said.
“It’s a privilege to be there at the beginning of new life as women become mothers and provide the best advice as families embark on the journey of parenthood.
“Midwives provide a safe place for women to discuss issues and build trusting
relationships throughout the duration of pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal
care.
“It’s through these relationships, midwives become trusted members of families and
communities,” Mr McAllister said.
International Day of the Midwife is observed each year on May 5 by more than 50
nations and co-ordinated by the International Confederation of Midwives.
Proserpine Director of Nursing Donna Martin, Exceptional Midwifery
Care Provider Award winner Nickey Pilgrim and Executive Director Public
Health and Rural Services Terry Johnson.
Clinical midwife consultant Victoria Noyce and Nurse Unit Manager
Maternity Kylie Clark
