King’s midwives recognised for exceptional contribution

16 October 2020 - Jill Demilew and Mary Dehinbo presented with Gold and Silver awards by the country’s most senior midwife

King’s midwives Jill Demilew and Mary Dehinbo have been presented with Chief Midwifery Officer awards to recognise their outstanding contributions to midwifery practice in England.

Consultant Midwife Jill, who received the Gold award, was recognised for addressing health inequalities and improving access to healthcare for the most vulnerable women in South London.
Through her work, Jill has applied different models of care within the community to get the very best outcomes for the most disadvantaged. She has influenced and informed health policy, consultations and briefings for MPs, which has directly resulted in improving care for women.

Jill has been fundamental in implementing continuity of carer models so that women have the same group of midwives supporting them throughout their pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal care. The model established at King’s has been used as an exemplar across the South West Local Maternity System. Jill also holds a strong belief in the importance of building trusting relationships with women and supporting them to manage loss, grief and trauma.

Tracey MacCormack, Head of Midwifery at King’s College Hospital, said, “Jill’s extraordinary contribution has given a voice to the most marginalised groups of women in society. She has influenced so many midwives and student midwives who have worked alongside her. Jill’s contribution has changed national guidance for the benefit of women and their families. She is an unassuming leader, extremely gracious, an expert in her subject, an excellent role model and an absolute asset to maternity services for vulnerable women in south London.”

Mary Dehinbo, newly appointed Consultant Midwife, was presented with the Silver award for making positive changes to the labour ward whilst on secondment. She was instrumental in setting up a telephone assessment line, which enhanced the triage process for women in labour calling the department and freed up time for midwives to provide care on the ward. Mary has also implemented wireless fetal monitoring, which has improved the standard of care for women.

Tracey MacCormack added, “During Mary’s secondment to a specialist role covering a Consultant Midwife’s post, she made many positive changes on the labour ward, whilst providing support not only for the women in her care but also others on the ward.”

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, who presented the awards, said, “The Chief Midwifery Officer Awards celebrate the ways that staff have gone above and beyond to improve care for women and their babies, as well as their contribution to the profession of midwifery as a whole. I was extremely proud to hear about the amazing work that has taken place and honoured to have the opportunity to present these awards.”