Helen Marvell's holiday bags will be lighter this year - no more text books.

She's just achieved her Masters in Advanced Fertility Practice  and for the first time  in four years she can leave the heavy stuff behind and pack a John Grisham.

She said: " I feel quite humbled by people's messages to congratulate me. When it went on Facebook  patients and colleagues throughout the UK  wrote such lovely messages. It makes you realise the impact you have on people’s lives.  It was challenging and exerting at times but it makes you want to question current practices and look at new ways of working allowing patients to benefit from the latest reproductive technologies."

Most complicated was learning the science behind ultrasound physics! (nuff said!)

Helen is hoping that by attaining her Masters it will allow her to develop her clinical skills further to enhance the care patients attending Yorkshire Fertility receive.

Helen joined the Trust in 1997 and worked on the gynae ward and then moved into the then assisted conception unit in 2002.  She achieved the post of clinical lead nurse 8 years ago. Helen has seen the unit grow at a phenomenal rate. In the early days the unit  had four new referrals a week compared to more than 35 at the moment.

She is one of five holders of the Masters in the country and achieved it through home and distance working attending lectures at Edge Hill University and at Liverpool Women's Hospital along with nurses from other areas of the country.

"I love my role. The difference you can make to patients, supporting them through very difficult times in their lives, is very important to me. We want them to have the best journey they can with us."