A MIDWIFE who has delivered thousands of babies has won a prestigious national award.

Carole Waterhouse, who works at the Royal Bolton Hospital, has been named the British Journal of Midwifery’s Community Midwife of the Year by the British Journal of Midwifery (BJM ) just weeks before she is due to retire.

The 55-year-old has worked as a midwife since 1979.

She said: “I just get up to go to work and do the best I can, so I am shell shocked by all this.”

The BJM’s Community Midwife of the Year Award aims to highlight the work of community midwives “who provide outstanding maternity care for women in a community setting.

“The award recognises the work of a community midwife who has shown an unfailing commitment to ensuring women receive the best antenatal and postnatal care.”

Mrs Waterhouse spent much of her career working in inner city Salford, but last year chose to transfer to the Royal Bolton after the hospital became a supercentre for babies, children and women’s services and Salford Royal Hospital’s maternity unity closed.

Since last November she has been working with mums and babies in Little Hulton, but is taking flexible retirement at the end of this month.

Last year Fiona Murphy was named Nurse of the Year by the Royal College of Nursing.

Mrs Murphy is the clinical lead for bereavement and organ donation at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

She and her team have received national and international praise for their work, helping people with bereavement as well as encouraging people to sign up for organ donation.