Midwifery
Real life stories - Midwife
Name: Joy Kirton
Job title: Midwife, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Trust
Entry route: After working as a registered nurse
Joy qualified as a midwife in 1981 but left the profession three years later to set up her own business. She missed the caring side of midwifery and returned to practice 15 years later.
To be a midwife, common sense, a good sense of humour, being a team player and communication skills are all important. A good midwife also knows their limitations and when it is time to call for help.
As part of our mandatory study days, all midwives need to be up to date on procedures for obstetric emergencies. I am part of the team that updates them on these issues. I am also part of the Basildon’s Perineal Repair Team which teaches midwives from Basildon and other hospitals how to suture.
Many midwives specialise in certain areas but I enjoy all aspects of the role. For me, the best thing about being a midwife is the variety of the role as I love doing lots of different things. At the end of each day, it is also great to see a happy, healthy mother and baby leaving the ward. Working with a good team is also paramount. In an emergency, and when things get tough, it is good to know you have the support of your colleagues.
In my early career, I trained as a nurse and later trained as a midwife and qualified in 1981. At the time you had to be a nurse before becoming a midwife and you didn’t need a degree.
I left the NHS in 1984 to set up my own business with my sister but I found myself in a management role and attending a lot of meetings. I missed the hands-on, clinical side of midwifery so returned to practice in 1999 and I had to undertake some study sessions at degree level. I think I’ll be in the NHS until I retire. It is a stable environment and there is a good pension. There are also lots of career opportunities and scope for training. And because I have been in the NHS so long, I also get lots of holiday every year!
