A SENIOR midwife at the Vale of Leven Hospital is set to retire after nearly two decades of supporting the local community.

Marie Whalen, a senior charge midwife at the hospital’s community maternity unit, plans to retire later this year after 18 years in the role.

Marie qualified as a midwife 34 years ago and explained she has been “very fortunate” in her career.

She said: “I retire in September and I’m now looking forward to spending quality time with my family.

“I have been very fortunate in my career and have loved caring and providing services for the local community where I live.

“The most rewarding day-to-day part of my job is working with a great team and providing quality care.

“The highlight of working at the Vale is providing continuity of care for local women and their families, following their journeys, and seeing them come back for further pregnancies.”

Today (May 5) marks International Day of the Midwife. It is a day when the amazing work that midwives do is celebrated.

This year’s theme is ‘Together Again: From Evidence to Reality’. It aims to highlight the shared excitement of midwives being able to meet face-to-face after more than two years of lockdowns and global travel restrictions.

Reflecting on her career Marie said she would encourage anyone considering becoming a midwife to take the chance to do so.

She added: “My advice would be to take the opportunity. It is a great career and extremely rewarding.

“Midwives have a very privileged role in supporting families through the pregnancy journey.”

The maternity unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital is just one of many dedicated units across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

These include the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary’s Princess Royal Maternity, the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, and Vale of Leven Hospital.

Dr Mary Ross-Davie, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Director of Midwifery, said: “I would like to wish every member of our maternity and midwifery teams a very happy International Day of the Midwife.

“Each day I’m amazed by the commitment of the midwives working across our Maternity Hospitals, in community care, and in our Community Maternity Units and the professionalism, compassion, and kindness they have for the women and families in their care.

“I have been a midwife for nearly 28 years and I still feel so proud to say I am a midwife. 

"Midwives make a difference every day of the year, night and day, supporting women and their families going through pregnancy, birth, and those early parenting days.”