Whittington Health NHS Trust’s maternity team keep spirits high on Christmas Day
15 Dec 2022
Up to 15 babies are expected to be born this Christmas day at Whittington Hospital.
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“On just the day shift, we’ll have 17 midwives, 5 doctors, 2 anaesthetists, Operating Department Practitioners, Healthcare support workers, domestic staff, and our community staff, who will be out and about checking-in with new mothers in their homes,” says Jane Laking, Midwife.
“You could really mull over missing out on Christmas Day by being at work. But when you become a Midwife, that’s what you sign up for. You’ve just got to make the best of it.”
Jane has worked at Whittington Health for 21 years. When her children were little, she would trick them into not knowing what day it was so her family could secretly celebrate Christmas on Boxing Day.
“If you don’t turn on the TV on Christmas Day, children have no idea that’s it’s Christmas!” she says.
Jane’s children are now old enough to accept that mum won’t be home for Christmas, and instead will be running the Christmas day shift from 8:00am to 8:30pm.
All babies born on Christmas day at the Whittington Hospital this year will receive a handmade red and white striped knitted hat. And babies born too small and too soon admitted to the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) will receive a little Christmas stocking stuffed with small treats.
The very first baby born on Christmas Day will receive something extra special.
Maternity staff work hard to keep spirits high in the department. Someone will do a ‘big Christmas food shop’ – dividing the provisions between the day and the night shift to ensure everyone can acknowledge the day with festive treats, and all Whittington Health staff working on Christmas day are entitled to a free Christmas lunch in the Whittington Hospital staff canteen.
The Trust’s maternity staff have a lot to celebrate in the new year as plans were recently approved to improving and refurbishing the department. In total, over £100 million will be spent on the long-term project that will help to match the facilities with the high standard of service that the team already provide. Work is expected to begin on phase 1 in the first half of the new year.
Having a baby at unexpected times and not where you had planned to be isn’t something that has changed since Mary’s delivery in the stable. “People think no one will come to the Maternity department Christmas Day, but you can’t really control when baby will come!” says Jane.
“We’re open. And if any expectant mother has a concern or a worry, we want them to please come in and see us. We are here for mothers on Christmas Day and we’re waiting for you.
“When you work for the NHS, you do what you have to do. And as my dad used to say when I would leave for work on Christmas, ‘well, someone had to deliver baby Jesus!”
“You could really mull over missing out on Christmas Day by being at work. But when you become a Midwife, that’s what you sign up for. You’ve just got to make the best of it.”
Jane has worked at Whittington Health for 21 years. When her children were little, she would trick them into not knowing what day it was so her family could secretly celebrate Christmas on Boxing Day.
“If you don’t turn on the TV on Christmas Day, children have no idea that’s it’s Christmas!” she says.
Jane’s children are now old enough to accept that mum won’t be home for Christmas, and instead will be running the Christmas day shift from 8:00am to 8:30pm.
All babies born on Christmas day at the Whittington Hospital this year will receive a handmade red and white striped knitted hat. And babies born too small and too soon admitted to the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) will receive a little Christmas stocking stuffed with small treats.
The very first baby born on Christmas Day will receive something extra special.
Maternity staff work hard to keep spirits high in the department. Someone will do a ‘big Christmas food shop’ – dividing the provisions between the day and the night shift to ensure everyone can acknowledge the day with festive treats, and all Whittington Health staff working on Christmas day are entitled to a free Christmas lunch in the Whittington Hospital staff canteen.
The Trust’s maternity staff have a lot to celebrate in the new year as plans were recently approved to improving and refurbishing the department. In total, over £100 million will be spent on the long-term project that will help to match the facilities with the high standard of service that the team already provide. Work is expected to begin on phase 1 in the first half of the new year.
Having a baby at unexpected times and not where you had planned to be isn’t something that has changed since Mary’s delivery in the stable. “People think no one will come to the Maternity department Christmas Day, but you can’t really control when baby will come!” says Jane.
“We’re open. And if any expectant mother has a concern or a worry, we want them to please come in and see us. We are here for mothers on Christmas Day and we’re waiting for you.
“When you work for the NHS, you do what you have to do. And as my dad used to say when I would leave for work on Christmas, ‘well, someone had to deliver baby Jesus!”