Surrey student wins national midwifery student award
Tuesday 27 January 2009
A University of Surrey student has received a top UK midwifery award. Laura Carr has won a student vision award from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). She received the equivalent of a £250 award to undertake an Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) course and an official certificate from the RCM. More than 200 people, including journalist and broadcaster Jenni Murray, attended the RCM’s seventh annual awards at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London, on 22 January.
In her application to the award entitled “A New Generation of midwives: Improving emergency care in the delivery room”, Laura argued about the importance of midwives receiving continuous professional development skills to manage normal childbirth. She also highlighted the importance of them gaining new ones by attending the ALSO course. Funding for this course is currently only secured by senior midwives working as shift leaders on the Labour Ward where Laura was placed as a student.
Laura said: “When having my own children, I was fortunate to be a recipient of some excellent midwifery care for which I will never forget. I realised what a privileged and unique job midwives had providing care that will always be remembered as good, safe and effective.“
The RCM’s General Secretary Cathy Warwick said: “The judges loved the enthusiasm and commitment to the profession shown by Laura’s project. She will be the next generation of the midwifery profession and our future. She has very clear, strong and passionate ideas about the future of midwifery and we wanted to nurture her ambition, hopes and dreams for the profession.”
Professor Warwick added: “The RCM Midwifery awards have proved to be an immensely popular event and are now firmly embedded in the calendar as one of the highlights of the midwifery year.”
Laura added: “I am proud to be part of a new generation of midwives and I am proud to be part of a maternity service that puts women and babies on the top of its agenda.”
Laura's personal tutor at the University of Surrey, Dr Anna Brown, said: “Laura is a student who deserves to be nominated for this award. She has consistently worked to a high academic standard. She has given her full support to women and families and stands out as a student who would challenge practices to advocate for women and her profession. This is a midwife of the future who will be sure to enrich midwifery practice.”
Eileen Nolan, Associate Director Maternity Services, Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust, where Laura did her student placement, said: “Laura is an exemplary midwifery student at Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust. She has demonstrated energy, passion, competence and professionalism throughout her training here. I am confident Laura will qualify next month and will become an excellent midwife providing the best quality care for mothers and babies here at Ashford and St. Peter's maternity unit."
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk