Pioneering midwife receives her MBE

Val Finnegan shows her MBE

A pioneering midwife has received her MBE from Prince Charles during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Val Finigan, an expert in breastfeeding who is infant feeding co-ordinator for Pennine Acute Trust, has received the honour for services to healthcare.

The investiture recognises her sterling work to support breastfeeding mothers and help give their babies the best start in life.

A delighted Ms Finnegan, who has worked in the NHS for 30 years, said: “It was a wonderful occasion, one that I’ll never forget.

“Prince Charles asked about my work and the challenges of getting more women to breastfeed. I told him about my role leading the UNICEF Baby Friendly work locally and about the need to have more public places where it is socially acceptable for women to breastfeed.

“I was very anxious that I would fall over when I curtsied or trip up when I walked away, but I’m glad to say it went well. It’s the first time I’ve ever been inside Buckingham Palace and I must say that it is absolutely stunning.”

Ms Finnegan’s support work has played a key part in Pennine Acute Trust being described as ‘one of the most baby-friendly in the country’ by UNICEF.

Since Ms Finnegan became infant feeding co-ordinator five years ago, breastfeeding rates have doubled at The Royal Oldham Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital, which have both secured UNICEF’s Baby Friendly accreditation. Work is also under way at the Trust’s other hospitals, Rochdale Infirmary and Bury’s Fairfield General Hospital, under the Baby Friendly programme.

Ms Finnegan has also established a clinic for babies who cannot breastfeed because they are “tongue tied”. The condition which occurs when tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too tight or has grown attached to the tongue tip. It can be resolved with a quick procedure and babies from across the North West now have the procedure at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

Ms Finnegan reflected: “For me, it is lovely to receive the MBE but I couldn’t have achieved it without the help of hundreds of doctors, midwives, neo-natal nurses, other healthcare workers and peer breastfeeding supporters, as well as the total support of Pennine Acute Trust as an organisation.”

John Jesky, chairman of Pennine Acute Trust, said: “We are all delighted for Val and everyone at the Trust congratulates her on receiving this award, which is richly deserved.

“Time and time again she goes that extra mile to support breastfeeding mothers and it is no exaggeration to say that thousands of parents and their babies have benefited from her work.”

Ms Finnegan started her NHS career in geriatrics as a healthcare assistant at The Royal Oldham Hospital before undertaking nursing training. A year’s studying paediatrics at the Booth Hall children’s hospital saw her return to The Royal Oldham Hospital in 1983, where she has worked ever since.

Qualifying as a midwife in 1991, Ms Finnegan holds a BA Honours and a Masters in Midwifery, and became an International Board-certified Lactation Consultant in 1995. She is currently in the fourth year of a professional doctorate in midwifery at the University of Salford.