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| Emer Delivers Quality Care |
| Written by Communications Team | ||
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Midwife Emer Kelly not only delivers babies but is on the road to teaching other aspiring midwives how to deliver quality care to mothers at all stages of their pregnancy, the baby's birth, and in the first few days of life. Passionate about her work, Emer said: "Although a demanding job with lots of responsibility, it is a very privileged role. I enjoy the contact with women, building relationships with women and their families. I enjoy the challenge of the role and the opportunity it brings to develop new skills. There is immense job satisfaction through enhancing women and their families' experience of pregnancy and childbirth." Initially Emer worked as a health care assistant (HCA) in Ireland. She began a degree course at the University of Surrey began in February 2001 while working all over the hospitals, both at St. Peter's and Ashford on the medical, surgical and paediatric wards as an HCA. Her first student nurse placement at the Trust was in June 2001. She said: "I began working on the labour ward at St. Peter's Hospital as a general nurse in obstetrics theatres and the high dependency unit in September 2004. This job opportunity was aimed at nurses who wanted to pursue a career in midwifery and the plan was to work on the labour ward for a year and then commence midwifery training. However, I worked on the labour ward for two years as a nurse and then had my own baby and maternity leave before beginning my training as a midwife in September 2006." The studying and practical work achieved good results and she became Midwife Emer Kelly in March 2008. Said Emer, 28: "I enjoy the challenge of the role and developing new skills and at Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust there is the opportunity to work with different health professionals from obstetricians, anaesethists, operating department practitioners, nurses, health care assistants, students - and the list goes on!" There can be really busy days, and there can be quiet days. On a typical day when she comes on duty Emer will check who is on the labour ward and there will be phone calls to take and advice to be given to callers. Emer may be allocated a woman to care for during her labour and delivery, or she may be asked to work in the four-bed observation recovery room opposite the midwives' work-station. She might be asked to assist in a caesarean section in one of the two operating theatres on the labour ward. She added: "No day is ever the same, which adds to the variety and enjoyment of the job. It is a very personal feeling when you have just delivered a baby and I feel very privileged to be able to support families at such a special time in their lives. "It's a challenging job because every woman and their family are different and some families have quite complex needs and part of the enjoyment for me is helping them through this experience. When you are looking after a woman in labour you care caring for two, or more, lives and this responsibility brings its own reward." St. Peter's Hospital is a regional centre for Neonatal Intensive Care and of the nine Consultant Obstetricians and Gynaecologists two are responsible for high-risk births. Although there are many successful births, sadly there can be losses at any stage in pregnancy and delivery. Said Emer: "Although the majority of the time it is a really positive and happy experience as a midwife, we occasionally experience sad events, but even this can be rewarding if you can help a family though this difficult and sad time - and this is where team work and the support of colleagues is also so very important." Emer enjoys the 24/7 approach to her job and the 12 hour shifts which allow for continuity of care for women in labour. She said: "For my part, it allows job satisfaction as it gives more time off and flexibility for family life, personal commitments and studying. I am very used to working this way as the majority of my working life has been in the health profession, and this goes for many of my friends, too." Emer's partner Peter is also in the health care profession. They have a three-year-old daughter, Leah. Said Emer: "Getting the work/life balance right is important and working in the NHS does allow for family life flexibility. I do have hopes and aspirations for the future and I'm particularly interested in health promotion, teaching and practice development. At the moment I'm undertaking a mentorship course at the University of Surrey which will allow me to continue teaching students and I would like to continue developing skills and enhancing my knowledge." As keen to pass on knowledge as she has been to gain it. Emer would eventually like to teach in the hospital environment, under the auspices of the University.
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