Cambridgeshire midwife receives national midwifery honour
By RCM on 08 March 2018 RCM Honorary Fellowship
A midwife from March in Cambridgeshire has received a national award from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). Gail Johnson works as an Education Advisor at the RCM and this week received a prestigious Honorary Fellowship from the RCM for her contribution to midwifery and maternity services.
Since joining the RCM in 2005 Gail has been instrumental in developing the RCM’s online learning programme, i-learn. This learning resource - free to RCM members - is one of the RCM’s most successful products. i-learn supports midwives and maternity support workers to keep up to date and informed about their role and work. There are currently has over 100 courses on i-learn, with many more in the pipeline, and it has over 19,000 RCM members regularly using it.
Gail has also led on the development of the RCM’s work around leadership in maternity services, including conferences and workshops. This has been so successful that it was shortlisted for a Health Service Journal award.
Her work and expertise around reducing stillbirth and improving bereavement care has also led to this Honorary Fellowship for Gail. She has been the key RCM figure working with other health professionals, government departments and families’ organisations to raise the profile of this issue, leading to better care for women and their families. Her work in this area includes establishing an annual bereavement conference co-hosted with Sands and Bliss.
Over the past 2 years Gail has also found the energy and resources, largely in her spare time, to edit Mayes’ Midwifery (15th edition). A text book which is one of the mainstays of midwifery education and is used by midwifery students and midwives across the world.
Gail received the award on Tuesday, 6th March 2018 at the Royal College of Midwives Annual Awards in London.
The RCM Honorary Fellowship is for people who make an outstanding contribution, or give outstanding service, to midwifery, maternity services, services for women and their families or to the RCM.
Gail said: “I am really delighted to have been nominated for RCM Honorary Fellow, it is a massive honour. I would like to thank my colleagues who have supported the online learning (RCM i-learn) and leadership education development, their guidance has been invaluable. I look forward to continuing the work to ensure that we meet the needs of the profession and maternity care.”
Kathryn Gutteridge, President of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “Gail’s work has been so important, not just for the RCM but for midwives, maternity services and women and their families. This is a thoroughly deserved honour and the Royal College of Midwives is delighted to award her this Honorary Fellowship.”
To contact the RCM Media Office and for a picture of David receiving his Honorary Fellowship call 020 7312 3456, or email pressofficer@rcm.org.uk.
Note to editors
The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.
ENDS
David Foster said “I am delighted to accept this extraordinary, unexpected and greatly appreciated accolade. It recognises achievements which could not have been accomplished alone - it’s also a tribute to the skilled and distinguished midwives I have worked with to influence national policy and improve care for women and babies.”
Kathryn Gutteridge, President of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “David has been hugely influential in championing midwifery and the wider NHS. His influence and support have been critical in ensuring the midwifery voice was listened to. This is thoroughly deserved recognition and the Royal College of Midwives is delighted to award David this Honorary Fellowship.”
To contact the RCM Media Office and for a picture of David receiving his Honorary Fellowship call 020 7312 3456, or email media@rcm.org.uk.
Note to editors
The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.