31 May 2013
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Jo Mockler and Emma Knott jointly received the award after raising £4,500 for Dorset County Hospital |
Two student midwives from Bournemouth University have been jointly named Student Midwife of the Year, after raising more than £4,500 to help bereaved mothers.
Third year BSc (Hons) Midwifery students Emma Knott and Jo Mockler received the honour at the British Journal of Midwifery Practice Awards 2013.
Emma, 36, of Dorchester, said: "We were really proud and exciting just to be nominated, let alone to win.
"Just going to the awards ceremony was amazing and it was a great event.
"The judges told us it was a really difficult category, with lots of nominations."
The Student Midwife of The Year award is open to all student midwives and recognises the enthusiasm and willingness to question practice that students bring to midwifery.
The pair were nominated for the accolade by Jo Hartley, Head of Midwifery at Dorset County Hospital, after raising more than £4,500 for the maternity unit there over the past two years.
While Emma raised money for a cold cot in the hospital's maternity bereavement suite, which allows grieving parents to keep their baby with them for longer, Jo designed and produced 700 Forget-Me-Not memory books for families who have lost their babies.
The books feature poems and space for families to write down their memories and place photos of scans.
Emma, 36, of Dorchester, said: "We started the course together and became friends quite quickly. I wanted to get the money for the cold cot and she did the books.
"The Forget Me Not books really help parents because they have got something concrete to keep going back to, particularly on memorable days like anniversaries."
They each received a glass trophy and framed certificate at the awards ceremony, which took place on May 16 at Le Meridien hotel in London.
"Our friends and family have been really supportive," said Emma, who plans to work in hospitals in India for a few months when she finishes her degree.
"They are really proud of us."
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