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 Department at Forth Valley Royal Hospital attended the awards ceremony in London along with Val Arbuckle, Midwifery Sister, who nominated her for the award. Carol admits she had no idea she had been nominated until Val asked her what she was doing on the 9th of December 2014 – the day the interviews were taking place as part of the selection process.
“It was a complete surprise, as I didn’t know Val had put me forward for the award. Some of the student midwives had seen it on the RCM website and mentioned it to me. It was a further shock when I found out I’d won, I went down to London not thinking I’d win – I didn’t believe it when they called out my name!”
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 vulnerable 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 partners to take a lead role in helping to care for the new arrival.
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.”
