Midwife from Essex wins coveted award for ‘tireless work’ helping colleagues during COVID-19

on 22 May 2023 RCM Maternity Services Midwifery Midwives Government Pregnancy Midwifery Workforce Wales

An Essex midwife has won a national award for her ‘incredible’ work improving worker safety and mentoring fellow staff during COVID-19.

Katie Griffiths, who works at Basildon Hospital Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, received a Workplace Champion award at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) annual awards in London on 19 May. 

Katie was nominated by colleagues for her outstanding leadership and the example she set to other colleagues when the pandemic hit. She was elected as steward during the  pandemic and undertook all of her training during lockdown. “Despite the inevitable difficulties of learning the ins and outs of a new role at this time, Katie threw herself into her work and won the admiration and respect of all her colleagues,” said RCM’s Chief Executive, Gill Walton, who presented Katie with her award.

Gill continued: “It’s clear that Katie is a fantastic advocate of what an RCM member should be – dedicated, devoted to the profession and a beacon for her colleagues. She an amazing representative for the RCM and a great ambassador for the profession. She encourages new members to join and is a great support to the colleagues she works with and represents. It’s no easy task being a steward and mentor and infinitely more difficult to train for, and then start doing this in the midst of a global pandemic. Yet, Katie has carried out her role as an RCM steward in a skilled and professional manner. She is a force for good and is respected by maternity management for the way she conducts herself. In short, she is fantastic at what she does and thoroughly deserves this award.”

After receiving her award, Katie said: “Being an RCM workplace rep has really invigorated my enthusiasm for my job. As a midwife, your job is to be an advocate for the people that you care for, but you can’t do that if you don’t have the support around you. So being able to advocate for other midwives means that I’m still helping women and families, because the midwives need to be looked after to do a good job. I really appreciate the trust my colleagues have placed in me.”

Commenting on the trust said: “It’s great to have a member of staff win an RCM Award, well done to Katie in being an advocate for her colleagues in midwifery and for working productively with the management team.”