Memuna is midwife of the year

BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

A midwife has been chosen as the best in her profession at its annual awards.

Memuna Sowe, pictured, lead midwife for vulnerable and marginalised women at Thornton Heath’s Croydon Health Services NHS Trust’s Rainbow Health Centre, was bestowed with the award at the British Journal Of Midwifery Practice Awards.

She started working as a midwife in Croydon five years ago and has focused on homeless health since 2015. She was nominated for the support for her patients, many of whom have had a traumatic life. She has often gone above and beyond the call of duty – sometimes providing families with basic necessities like nappies and baby clothes.

Ms Sowe, named Croydon’s Midwife Of The Year in 2016, was presented with her national award at a ceremony held at the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool earlier this month.

“I’m proud of this award and want to dedicate it to our fantastic team in maternity and homeless health,” she said.

“They work across many disciplines and have taught me so much about providing great care.

“The vulnerable women we see are often very late in their pregnancy and, without our care, they and their child would be at great risk. We are very grateful to have the skills and resources to help them, so that they get the same maternity care as other mothers and their chances of a good future are improved.”

Croydon’s maternity team delivers almost 4,000 babies each year. The Trust’s homebirth team was recently shortlisted for Team of the Year in the Royal College of Midwives Awards.

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust runs the Mayday and Purley hospitals, as well as providing community health services at home, in schools and in 15 health centres across the borough.

The trust’s director of midwifery, Ann Morling, said: “We are overjoyed that Memuna has won. She and her team meet every challenge with skill and compassion.”