Huge congratulations to Maternity Support Worker (MSW), Annette Goodwin, who has won a Chief Midwifery Officer (CMidO) Support Worker Excellence Award in the category “Working Together for Patients”.
A shocked Annette was presented the Award last Friday by former CHFT colleague, Michelle Bamforth, who is now the NHS Regional Head of Nursing and Midwifery for Workforce and Education.
Michelle told Annette: "The accolade for receiving award this is pretty high. Not only does your organisation have to submit the nomination, it is ratified through a group of chief nurses and midwives. The fact you have got that recognition is really important."
Annette said: "I have worked for the NHS for more than 35 years and like most people of my generation, we probably don't give ourselves enough credit, so this was the biggest surprise of my working life.
"I can't express how much this means to me, and the recognition from Stevie and the rest of the maternity team was overwhelming and such a massive surprise.
"Of course I couldn't do my job without the rest of the team in maternity."
Annette was nominated by Professional Development Midwife, Stevie O'Connell. Here is a snippet from her nomination:
Annette is a constant source of positivity within the clinical environment. Her calm, kind, and approachable manner helps to ease anxiety for women and their families, and she is unwavering in their commitment to providing compassionate, respectful, and dignified care.
Annette consistently goes above and beyond to support women and their families, offering reassurance, practical help, and emotional support whenever it is needed. Her willingness to help without hesitation reflects her genuine passion for patient care and their deep understanding of the importance of every role within maternity services.
Annette is also an invaluable support to the multidisciplinary team, including student midwives, MSWs, midwives, and our medical colleagues. She is highly attuned to the pressures faced by staff and consistently act with kindness, initiative, and empathy. When colleagues are unable to take breaks due to clinical demands, she ensures the MDT are cared for in practical but meaningful ways, most notably by making sure everyone has fresh cups of tea and toast. These thoughtful gestures may seem small, but they make a significant difference to staff wellbeing and morale, particularly during long and demanding shifts.
Even as she approaches retirement, her commitment, enthusiasm, and compassion remain unwavering. She will leave behind a remarkable legacy of kindness, dedication, and teamwork.
