Liz Collins, who began her midwifery career in 1979 and joined the hospital in 1980, quickly developed an interest in working to support the needs of vulnerable women who had a dependence on drugs and alcohol.
During her time at the hospital, she has been instrumental in setting up the R D and E’s Perinatal Service.
The Chief Midwifery Officer’s Silver Award was presented to Liz by Jessica Read, Deputy Chief Midwifery Officer at NHS England/Improvement.
Jo Bassett, Deputy Head of Midwifery at the hospital said: “I can think of no other single individual who has had a bigger impact on the delivery of maternity care for Devon’s women with mental health problems than Liz Collins.
“Liz has always had the needs of women and families at the heart of her work; she worked tirelessly to achieve the best outcomes for women who sometimes were experiencing disabling anxiety, severe depression, a restrictive eating disorder or other complicated mental illness.
“Her dedication to the NHS and the R D and E is staggering and humbling. “She is very much deserving of the Chief Midwifery Officer’s Silver award.”
Liz said: “It was an honour to receive this award in recognition of my forty years of service as a midwife at the hospital and, as I retire, I will always be able to look back and know how well my work was appreciated.
“I have always been an advocate of women, supporting them to have their own voice and have set up services to help women who may find parenting challenging.”
The Chief Nursing and Chief Midwifery Officer awards have been developed to reward the significant and outstanding contribution made by nurses and midwives in England and their exceptional contribution to nursing and midwifery practice.
The silver award recognises performance that goes above and beyond the expectations of the everyday role that the nurse or midwife is expected to perform in their current role.
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