Midwife from Sheffield Hallam University named ‘Pregnacare student midwife of the year’
By RCM on 13 March 2018 Student midwives Midwives RCM Annual Midwifery Awards Pregnacare
Gemma Ford was presented with her award at a prestigious ceremony in London on March 6th by Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins.
The Pregnacare® student midwife of the year award recognises an individual student midwife who makes an outstanding contribution to their future profession. This accolade is awarded to a student midwife who acts as an advocate for midwifery role model to other students.
Throughout her time at Sheffield Hallam University Gemma has been an ambassador for midwifery education and inspired and supported many students returning to university as well as first time entrants to midwifery courses. Gemma is also president of the current student midwifery society and earlier this year has devised and held collaborative learning events with medical students from other local universities to improve multi-disciplinary learning and training between midwives, obstetricians and gynaecologists.
Commenting, Gill Walton Chief Executive and General Secretary at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said; “It’s truly inspiring to see student midwives like Gemma who are so dedicated and passionate about entering the midwifery profession and who encourage others to do the same.
“The work Gemma has also done to establish a strong midwifery society within the university that runs learning events that are relevant to the world that midwives practice in is so important. It’s also so imperative that we as midwives understand how vital good multi-disciplinary team work is in improving outcomes for both mother and baby and that is why its so fantastic to see student midwives such a Gemma organising learning around this area of maternity care.
I heartily congratulate Gemma on this achievement and thank her and her fellow midwifery students for their dedication, skill and commitment to learning as well as the care they show to mothers, babies and their families.”
Marie Forslund, for Vitabiotics Pregnacare vitamins said, “Gemma is being recognised as the Student Midwife of the Year for her commitment to multi-disciplinary learning and for supporting her fellow students. She has shown initiative through her ideas to improve her Trust’s homebirth rates, and has proactively encouraged feedback in the student midwife environment to improve the learning experience. Gemma has truly taken every opportunity to make a positive impact whilst studying to become a midwife.”
Helen Best, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing at Sheffield Hallam University said: “I’m delighted that Gemma has been recognised for her achievements, she is very deserving of the title of Student Midwife of the Year, and we are all very proud. Her passion and dedication to midwifery shows in all that she does, especially in her commitment to enriching the student midwife experience for the benefit of all of her peers.”
More information on the RCM’s Annual Midwifery Awards is available to view here: https://www.rcmawards.com/
On social media use the hashtag #rcmawards #midwiferymoments
Visit our Alliance Partners section for more information on the RCM’s alliance partnership with Vitabiotics Pregnacare
For further information please contact the RCM Media Relations Team on 020 7312 3456 or email [email protected]
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Notes to editors
The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.