A TOP midwife from Bromsgrove has been awarded an MBE for services to maternity and women’s health in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Rachel Carter is director of midwifery and deputy chief nurse for the Women’s division at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

Ms Carter said: “I was completely overwhelmed when I heard about the honour. Midwifery is all about the team and it is only through working with amazing, inspirational colleagues and families, that together, we have been able to progress changes to continue improving the services we provide.

“Being a midwife was a childhood dream for me, and it remains a privilege to play a part in the pregnancy, birth and post birth care experience for so many families.

“I am proud of so much that our teams do on a daily basis. My role is about enabling them to achieve, to then provide the best care in line with what families want, and need".

She started her training in October 1992 at the Sorrento Maternity Hospital which soon moved to the Birmingham Women’s Hospital where she now heads up the Women’s Maternity, Neonatal and Gynaecology services that care for thousands of women, babies and families each year.

She qualified in 1995, starting in her first role at Birmingham Women’s Hospital where she worked for 17 years.

Ms Carter then took on a matron role in Worcester where she led the inpatient teams and the build and establishment of The Meadow Birth Centre. She worked for a short time at City Hospital, Birmingham, before returning to the Women’s Hospital in 2019 as lead midwife.

Ms Carter has said she is passionate about driving improvements in women’s health and maternity care. At Birmingham Women’s Hospital she has focused on listening to women and families and creating the right environment for colleagues to develop so that they can provide excellent care.

Speaking about her hopes for the future, she added: “Being a midwife is a way of life; I know that, through listening to those for whom we care alongside those with whom we care, working in partnership to plan improvements, we are able to drive real change. Every day I meet people who inspire me and who give me confidence for what the future is yet to bring.

“I am humbled to receive this honour, which truly is down to the amazing people across my home and work families who have supported and nurtured me throughout my career.”

Daljit Athwal, the chief nursing and midwifery officer for Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are all proud and thrilled for Rachel but this honour comes as no surprise.

“Rachel is an outstanding senior leader who has made a significant impact on midwifery practice locally, regionally, and nationally during her 30 years of NHS service.

“Her dedication and compassion, along with her expertise and knowledge has enabled the delivery of safe, woman centred, compassionate care. 

“Rachel’s compassion and commitment to improve the lives of women and babies has seen her not only improve care at BWC but to reach out across Birmingham and Solihull, and nationally, to share her experience and passion to help teams improve the care of women.

“Rachel’s drive is an inspiration to us all and I would like to congratulate her on this very well deserved honour on behalf of all her colleagues and, of course, the women and babies on whose lives she has made such an incredible impact.”