Maureen still at the heart of NHS after 50 years
Midwife has seen it all during her five decades of service.
A much-loved midwife has celebrated her career, which spanned more than 50 years.
Maureen Miles, now aged 69 from Burntwood, began her training in 1971 when she was known as Maureen Brotherhood.
During her training she started at Dudley Road Hospital, now known as City Hospital and Good Hope, where she was delivering babies as a pupil midwife.
She started working as a community midwife in April 1973, where she helped mums to be around Brownhills and Walsall Wood.
Maureen said: "I worked as a community midwife for nearly 20 years, in those days there was very little equipment, we had no phones, pagers or monitors.
"There has been vast changes to being a community midwife since I started in the 70s.
"You were on call 24 hours a day five days a week, I had to do a lot of home deliveries, which you don't get as many of these days.
"As times have gone on, health and safety has come in and it is a much safer place for women to have babies. The access to healthcare for these women is so much greater. We have assessment units they can call 24/7.
"It's very difficult to put into words how much has changed, but it is much more personalised and the women give informed consent for everything."
In 1991, Maureen married Michael and became Maureen Miles, in 1992 she began work at Walsall Manor Hospital's delivery suite, before becoming a team leader in 1997.
"We are a teaching hospital, so it has been a tremendous career for me, especially teaching new midwives and students over the years it re-assures me that progress will continue.
"I have never had a day where I do not want to go into work.
"Some of the babies I delivered have grown up and then I have actually delivered their children, I've delivered whole families."
Working in the hospital throughout the pandemic, posed new challenges to Maureen and her team; and although she has retired from her role as a midwife, she is continuing to support the NHS's Covid-19 vaccination programme three days per week.
She added: "It has been stressful for all staff and for the women who initially were struggling, who were unsure if they should come into hospital at all.
"We have reassured them that every safety precaution has been put into place to protect patients and staff.
"It is a very special experience having a baby, but we endeavour to think of safety and have had to be very strict, PPE is also an important part of that."
Looking back on her career, it was impossible for Maureen to pick just one moment that was her greatest achievement.
She continued: "Making a difference to each and every family I've met and being what I consider to be the true meaning of a midwife to be there for the woman and support them.
"I have enjoyed every moment and meeting every family.
"The vast number of colleagues I have encountered over the years from cleaners, porters, healthcare assistants, doctors, midwives to management - everyone has supported me and has assisted me in achieving my goals and making my career what it has been.
"Teamwork and support from the hierarchy are some of the most important things to being successful.
"I want to thank them all from the bottom of my heart, for making my career one of pleasure and an honour."
