Diane Chadderton scoops community midwife of the year award

Diane Chadderton

Diane Chadderton, community matron at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, who cares for pregnant women from Oldham and Rochdale borough, has walked away with one of the top prizes at The British Journal of Midwifery Practice annual awards.

Diane, who is based at The Royal Oldham Hospital, was awarded the Community Midwife of the Year Award at a ceremony in London.

She was nominated for the award in recognition for her work in the community over the last 15 years.

In December 2012, Diane led the opening of the Trust’s new midwife-led birth centre at The Royal Oldham Hospital. In its first year, the birth centre has helped 951 women give birth in state-of-the art surroundings. The unit is relaxing and soothing and this attribute is transferred to the holistic and expert care given by the midwives.

Diane was nominated by the Trust’s consultant midwife in public health Eileen Stringer. Eileen said: “Diane is an unsung heroine and her unfailing enthusiasm, passion and commitment deserves to be recognised.

“She is passionately committed to midwifery and has taught many midwives to provide the very best of care with the woman and family always at the centre of everything they do.

Commenting on her award, Diane said: “At the presentation evening, the community midwife of the year was the first award to be called out and I was shocked when I heard my name announced. I felt really excited that the work that the midwifery team strive to achieve in the Oldham and Rochdale areas has been recognised by an independent panel of judges.

“The hard work, motivation and flexibility of the team to offer women a seamless service so that they achieve the best outcome with their maternity care is wonderful. As the matron for the team of community midwives, the award is for all the team, which also includes our birth centre.”

Winning a framed certificate and glass trophy, Diane is now back at work at the £44m women and children’s development at The Royal Oldham.

Diane said: “It’s a wonderful job and I am finding now that many women who contact me for care are the daughters of women who I have previously delivered babies for! I feel honoured that these women still remember me years on and that they want the same experience for their new family.”

Cathy Trinick, head of midwifery at the Trust, said: “I am absolutely delighted for Diane. This prestigious award is testimony to the hard work and commitment Diane has given to the women of Oldham and Rochdale over the years.”