Families and colleagues thank midwife

Families and colleagues have thanked a UHNM midwife for her calm and caring approach. Patience Munyikwa, who comes from Zimbabwe, has been a midwife for seven years. Having started as a nurse in intensive care, she then had a change of heart and decided to go into maternity care.

Patience won praise from staff across the Trust after facilitating a particularly challenging delivery recently and she now been given the Employee of the Month award.

Patience said: "I am a seed that was planted and everyone has allowed me to grow. This award has come to me, but it is also for the team, because without them I wouldn't be able to do the job that I do.

“I wake up every day, no matter how tired I am, and I know I am coming to a family who work together.

“I am sometimes homesick, but that isn't because I am unhappy here. I am so comfortable and grateful to work with such an amazing team."

Patience started at UHNM in March and quickly became a beloved presence on the delivery suite at Royal Stoke, even having babies named after her.

Jill Tooth, delivery suite manager, said: “Patience is always cheerful and a huge asset to the team. She has made so many births so much more positive for the parents and we are so grateful to have her. Staff commented on how calm and professional she remained during a very stressful situation recently.”

Ann-Marie Riley, chief nurse, said: "Patience is such an inspirational midwife who is clearly well respected and cherished by her team. She is the embodiment of our Trust values and we are incredibly proud that she is a member of the UHNM family.”