Huge congratulations are in order for NHS Forth Valley’s Carol Whitfield, winner of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Maternity Support Worker of the Year award.

Carol, who works in the Women and Children’s Unit at Forth Valley Royal Hospital attended the awards ceremony in London along with Val Arbuckle, NHS Forth Valley Midwifery Sister, who nominated her for the prestigious national award.

The RCM Annual Midwifery Awards reward, celebrate and share outstanding achievement in midwifery across the UK. They also discover outstanding individuals making a difference for women, families and the newborn. The Maternity Support Worker of the Year award recognises the importance of the Maternity Support Worker in providing holistic care to women and their families, supporting midwives and improving practice.

Carol, who is originally from Stirling but now lives in Falkirk, started her career with NHS Forth Valley nearly 30 years ago, initially starting out as a Domestic Assistant. She became a Nursing Auxiliary in 1994 and worked her way up to the post of Clinical Support Worker in 2007. In 2009 she undertook a Maternity Care Assistant’s course at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen which she successfully completed to lead her to her current role.

Carol has since been an integral part of NHS Forth Valley’s maternity team helping to improve the care provided to women and their families living in the area. She has received excellent feedback from the families who have commented on her “down to earth approach” and easy to comprehend communication skills. On any given day she might be out in the community or in a ward environment where she is proactive in encouraging the partners to take the lead role in the first baby bath and care.

Now back to work after her win Carol said: “I’ve received lots of gifts and cards from different team members. It’s a great team and everyone has been really kind. Staff that have been on night shift have been leaving me cards and I’ve been getting requests to bring my award in!’