A whole host of healthcare professionals are involved in the pregnancy, birth and post-natal journey, – from midwives, doctors, nurses and surgeons to anaesthetists, obstetricians, neonatal professionals and health visitors. These are the hands that touch the lives of expectant and new parents, both physically and emotionally. From the first scans and antenatal care: to the hands that deliver the baby, support parents and comfort a premature baby.
WaterWipes developed The Pure Foundation Fund to put faces and names to the hands that touch the lives of expectant and new parents, yet so often remain anonymous.
Both new and expectant parents and other healthcare professionals could nominate a healthcare professional who had provided exceptional support, compassion and care or contributed to advancing maternity or neonatal services.
Consultant midwife trainee, Emily Seddon, has been awarded the Pure Foundation Fund plaque and £2,500 for her maternity department at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), to continue to advance patient care. Emily was nominated by her colleague, consultant midwife trainee, Becky Parker, who was also instrumental in delivering excellence in the provision of maternity services.
In response to the UK’s first national lockdown in March 2020, Emily was tasked with developing a method of communication to keep families using UHS maternity services informed regarding changes to their care. With national guidance updating rapidly as the crisis continued, it was crucial that all communications were responsive, evidence-based, and supportive.
The Facebook page ‘Southampton Maternity Service’ was created by Emily, with the idea of building trust between the women who use UHS maternity services and the unit staff –