A specialist NHS Fife pregnancy service has won a top national award for its work supporting vulnerable pregnant women, unborn babies, and their families.
The Vulnerable in Pregnancy Team won the Midwife Award at the Scottish Health Awards, which were held virtually on Wednesday 09 December 2020.
The eight strong team consists of specialist midwives, nurses and nursery nurses, and is based at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
The team were celebrated for the exemplary work they have been doing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, where they have continued to provide safe, face-to-face personalised care for women and families with vulnerabilities including child protection issues, learning needs, social care challenges linked to deprivation, and gender-based violence.
The award was presented to the team by comedian, Fred Macaulay, and is the latest celebration of midwifery services after the North-East Fife Community Midwife Team won the Scotland Maternity and Midwifery Team Award at the Scottish Maternity and Midwifery Festival last month.
Associate Director of Midwifery, Aileen Lawrie, said: “We are delighted for our Vulnerable in Pregnancy Team and the valuable work that they do to support women and their families. The service provides essential support for women who may require more specialist care and, through its drug liaison team, family health team, bereavement nurse lead, and perinatal mental health specialist midwife, they make a huge difference in the lives of these women and their families. To receive such a prestigious national award is testament to the impact the Team make on women and their families every single day, in what can be a very challenging role.”
NHS Fife, Director of Nursing, Helen Buchanan, said: “In Fife, we are extremely proud of the midwifery services we provide and to see staff receive national recognition for the huge difference that they make to the lives of women and their families is particularly satisfying. With two prestigious national awards in quick succession, it is great to see our midwifery services celebrated. Not only are these awards fantastic news for the teams that won them, they also showcase to families that they are in the best possible hands if they are having a baby in Fife."
