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7th March 2011

Midwife celebrates 40 years in the NHS

A midwife at Broomfield hospital reached a major milestone in her career when she celebrated 40 years in the NHS last week.

Liz Millican, manager of the midwifery Day Assessment Unit (DAU) at Broomfield Hospital, qualified as a midwife in 1976 and began working for the trust when she joined the team at St John’s hospital in 1977.  Prior to that she worked at the Dumfries and Galloway Royal infirmary and in Newcastle and Carlisle.  

Reflecting on her career, Liz said: “Very early on I realised that midwifery was for me.  It is so satisfying to see people get what they have planned for over the past nine months – a healthy mother and baby.”

During her long career Liz has delivered 1203 babies, with three of them at the new birthing unit at Broomfield.  Liz adds: “As I now work on the day assessment unit which deals with antenatal care I don’t get the chance to deliver many babies, but that’s OK as my real love is the antenatal side of midwifery.

“Working on the DAU we see a lot of high risk women who have problems during their pregnancy.  It is so important that we offer these women some continuity of care and they see a familiar face as they sometimes visit us two to three times a week during their pregnancy.  I work with some great colleagues on the DAU, they are all very supportive to one another and the patients.”

Sheila Salmon, Trust chairman, presented Liz with some flowers to mark this special occasion.  Sheila, also a trained midwife, congratulated Liz and said that she was “an asset t the trust and a shining example to the midwifery profession.”

So, as Liz has been delivering babies for such a long time, do they ever come back to say hello when they have grown up?  “Yes they do and I am often sent photographs.  In fact, I have delivered three generations of one family and am now godmother to some family members as they have become very close friends.”

After 40 years in the NHS what’s next for Liz?  “I don’t think I am ready for retirement quite yet as I enjoy my work here and work with a great team.  Even though I was sad to leave St John’s the new unit is a lovely place to work and provides first class care for our patients.”

ENDS

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