Meet the NHS heroes with special festive deliveries
There’s no rest for Glasgow’s maternity hospitals workers as they prepare for a busy festive period
WHILE most of us are opening presents and tucking into turkey, staff at Glasgow’s maternity hospitals will be making sure the city’s very special Christmas deliveries have a safe arrival. Health Reporter CAROLINE WILSON spoke to three NHS workers who will be staffing the labour wards over the festive season ANNA Pacitti, 49, from Cathcart, a midwife at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, will be working a 12-hour shift on Christmas Day.
She said: “Babies don’t know it’s Christmas and they keep coming, so we will be there and ready to welcome them.
“I think all babies are special and Christmas is special too so when the two come together it’s the icing on the cake as it were.
“It can be hectic, but it’s a nice hectic. It’s a happy time and people are upbeat.
“I really do feel very privileged to do this job and I’ve even had two babies named after me which is always lovely.
“After my shift I will head home to a nice cheeses board and some nice red wine.
“It will also be time to open my presents and catch up with my family. Before I know another year has passed and it’s time to do it all over again.”I have been a midwife for 13 years now and have worked Christmas Day pretty much every second year since then.
“There is always a really warm atmosphere and staff bring in nice food and drink. “Because I am Italian I always bring in a pasta dish and this year it is going to be veggie lasagne. We might even splash out with some posh apple juice.”
Ann Duncan, a consultant obstetrician at the Princess Royal Maternity hospital, will be assisting with Boxing Day deliveries.
She said: “For religious reasons, Christmas isn’t everyone’s celebration and thankfully another doctors has volunteered to work both Christmas and Boxing Day this year.
“We do take it in turn and it’s important to allow those with young children time off if the rota allows.
“We don’t schedule any planned caesarean deliveries for Christmas day and nor do we tend to induce women on Christmas eve either, but otherwise babies come when they’re ready so we will still be busy.
“Many women are keen to have their baby before Christmas and be home if they can be.
“As I said, babies have their own schedule and for that reason on Christmas day we will be as ready as we would be any other day of the year.
“There’s always a really nice atmosphere and staff bring in lots of lovely things to eat and drink to make it special.
“Christmas names are popular too in the run-up to the big day with more babies being named Holly and Christopher than normal.
“I do remember the week before Christmas one lady who I had had a lot of input with during her pregnancy
It was a lot of work, going back to studying but so worth it – I love my job
called her son Jamie and to my delight said his middle name would be Duncan which was an early Christmas present for me.
“The festive period is also a popular time for couples to get pregnant – and September is always a busy time in the labour suite as a result.
“I’m not sure if it’s the festivities or couples just spending more time together .... but it happens year after year so there’s something special going on.”
Carol Johnston, 52, a maternity care assistant at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, where she has worked for 32 years, will be enjoying a well-earned Christmas Day at home with her family this year.
She said: “Before becoming a maternity care assistant I worked for many years as a Nursing Auxiliary, so have done my fair share of Christmas and New Year shifts in the RAH.
“One that sticks out in my mind was the Millennium – I remember it like it was yesterday and the race was on to have the first Millennium Baby.
“It was very special indeed and as the world was partying we were welcoming babies into the world.
“I last worked Christmas in 2016 and I remember my husband and daughter came to visit me.
“I was on a 12-hour shift so they popped in to see me as I only live five minutes away from the hospital. That was lovely.
“Those who can go home with their babies for Christmas do and for those who need to stay a while longer, we make it as special as we can for them.
In 2016, Carol retrained as a Maternity care assistant by studying at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.
She said: “It was a lot of work, going back to studying but so worth it – I love my job.
“I work in the post natal wards, helping women adjust to life as a mum. I help them feed their babies and bath and care for them too.
“Women often need a lot of support at this time; there’s so much going on and I enjoy being there to give them the help they need.
“I now have children and grandchildren so look forward to a lovely Christmas day with them. I think I have earned this one off.”