Oban midwife Betty MacIntyre honoured with her NHS ‘Oscar’
NHS hero and Oban midwife Betty MacIntyre, who has delivered hundreds of babies over the past 49 years, has been honoured with a health and social care Oscar.
Betty, who has delivered babies in a lifeboat, on a CalMac ferry and in a horsebox during her nearly half a century career, won the Pat Tyrrell Award for Caring Behaviours, presented to her at Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) Excellence Awards on April 27.
The 70-year-old, who also holds the title of Argyll and Bute’s longest-serving midwife and delivered each of her three sisters’ children, took charge of Oban’s first-ever water birth – before Glasgow even offered the option to mums-to-be – and was responsible for introducing midwifery home visits.
‘I’ve had a lovely career, it’s been very happy and fulfilling, although there have been sad times too,’ she said.
The HSCP Excellence Awards, now in their second year, recognise staff who have performed over and above expectations, nominated by colleagues and members of the public.
Betty’s nominations included this: ‘She sets a standard for how women should be cared for and has never wavered.’
Liz Higgins, lead nurse for Argyll and Bute HSCP, said: ‘Health and social care staff across Argyll and Bute are providing a first class service to their communities every day and we feel it is important that they are recognised for their hard work and dedication to our patients and service users.’
She added: ‘I was again really delighted by the high standard and the number of nominations we received, and by the really positive comments that our staff received from the people nominating them.
‘My colleagues and I had the very difficult decision of going through all the nominations and choosing the winners. I would therefore like to congratulate all the winners on their enthusiasm and commitment to the public across Argyll and Bute who are served by the HSCP.’
Jennifer MacIntyre, a senior charge nurse on Ward A at Oban’s Lorn and Islands Hospital was named Nurse/Midwife of the Year and admin support officer Caroline Walton, also based at Oban, won Admin Secretarial Worker of the Year. Therapist of the Year went to occupational therapist Ann Evans, who covers Mull and Iona.
Other winners were Richard Gault, a mental health worker in Dunoon who was recognised as Social Care Worker of the Year. Support Worker of the Year went to Leanne Wallace who is a domestic assistant in Cowal.
Chief Officers’ Outstanding Contribution to Health Social Care was awarded to Avril Coffield, a health care assistant in Campbeltown. Jane Williams, local area manager in the Isle of Bute was named as Outstanding Individual, with Argyll and Bute Radiography staff getting the most outstanding team honour.
The Patient/Service User Choice Award went to Kate Paton, who is a practice nurse in Strachur.