Published on 24 February 2022
A maternity care assistant who came back to the profession after retiring has been rewarded for her dedication with The British Citizen Award.
Sandy Davies, who works at the William Harvey Hospital, was recognised for her work caring for women and people who need planned caesarean sections to deliver their babies. She acts as a single point of contact, from booking the date and organising pre-op tests to helping to reassure families in the operating theatre, after stepping into the role to cover a colleague’s sick leave.
But the modest mum insists she was just doing her job.
She said: “It was amazing to think matron and my colleagues nominated me, just because I have stepped in to cover.
“It was the right thing to do – I knew the role and I knew I could do it. It was lovely to be recognised but I just come to work and do my best for our families and the team.”
Sandy joined the NHS in 2009, after being made redundant from her job in market research. In 2014 she decided to retire and moved to Wales, but found she missed working so re-joined East Kent Hospitals in 2017, initially in the Clinical Decision Unit until a job came up in maternity.
She said: “As soon as I saw the job of maternity care assistant I went for it and I haven’t looked back. I love it.
“I build a real relationship with the families I deal with, and I am always at the end of my email if they have any questions or concerns.
“It’s not like any other elective surgery; they are coming in to have a baby so it is something very special and I think it’s important to have that continuity of care and that one person they can rely on.”
Sandy joins the team in theatre when the baby is delivered, and takes photos to record the emotional moment parents and baby meet for the first time.
She said: “Every delivery is different, and it’s pure magic every time. When the baby cries for the first time and you see the elation on the parents’ faces it is a wonderful moment.
“We are with people at their most vulnerable time and it is a privilege to be able to share that with them. Sometimes they don’t know the gender and the whole theatre will fall silent as we show them the baby so they are the first to see.
“It really is amazing.”
The team at the William Harvey can deliver up to three babies by planned caesarean section every day, meaning Sandy has plenty to keep her busy.
But she and her colleagues also find time for training and development, and have joined a Health Education England programme aimed at upskilling maternity care assistants.
Sandy said: “We are all dedicated to providing the best care possible. I see a lot of good in the department and we are constantly striving for improvement.
“There is always a consultant here when we need one, and lots of lovely new midwives have been recruited too.
“We are all here for the families and I absolutely love my job. I can’t imagine leaving or doing anything else.”
Sandy is one of almost 50 Trust staff to receive The British Citizen Award – dubbed the People’s Honours and designed to recognise individuals doing extraordinary things for the good of the country. Just two per cent of those nominated are chosen to receive the award.
The Trust has made significant changes to its maternity service in recent years, including recruiting additional consultants to provide a 24-hour consultant presence at the William Harvey Hospital, and until 10pm at the QEQM. More senior midwives have also been recruited together with additional staff, including specialist midwives.
The Trust is also working closely with the Maternity Voices Partnerships to ensure women and families are actively involved in developing and improving services.
This year, improvement plans include reviewing the hospital environment and equipment, appointing a digital midwife to help support the move to fully electronic records, and adding additional tests and scans for people at risk of pre-term labour or growth-restricted babies.
