A PAIR of midwives from Barnsley Hospital have won a national award from the Royal College of Midwives.

Yasmeen Akhtar and Melissa Addy – specialist mental health midwives at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – received the Outstanding contribution to midwifery services: Perinatal Mental Health Award at the RCM annual awards in London last Friday.

Around one in five women experience mental health problems during or after pregnancy.

Recognising the need for even better support for these women, Yasmeen and Melissa developed a package of services including one-to-one support, group sessions, and unique antenatal educational classes for women who have anxieties about their pregnancy and birth.

They also brought women together, putting in place a peer-to-peer support group called Mums understand Mums.

Yasmeen and Melissa said: “We were so honoured to be shortlisted, then to go on to win was just amazing.

“It was a very special day for both of us and we are proud to be Barnsley midwives.

“We feel privileged to be part of their journey knowing we are making a difference to their lives.”

Jackie Murphy, trust director of nursing and quality at Barnsley Hospital, added: “We are proud to see this recognition of the wonderful work Yasmeen and her team has done in the delivery of this project.

“They have supported many people and consistently receive great feedback from the families who they support.”