Ruth is an exceptional and experienced midwife who cared for my daughter and son-in-law during her second labor today in the Orchard Birth Unit. It was a delight when Ruth came into the room as she also delivered M’s first baby 4 years ago. Ruth has such great interpersonal skills and delivers best practice & patient-centered care involving the woman and their partner throughout labour, instilling confidence and empowerment.

This enabled my daughter and her partner to feel at ease throughout a painful labour. Furthermore, due to staff sickness, Ruth inherited two student midwives whom she supervised throughout her shift without a proper break and never once complained. She dutifully spent time and energy ensuring the safe care of mother and baby whilst teaching and encouraging the student midwife in excellent midwifery practice. Her patience and methodical approach align her admirable core skill set to that of the trusts’ behaviours and values.

Ruth is truly an ambassador for midwifery, women, and the UHL NHS FT. She is a credit and an asset and has lots of expertise to pass on to the next generation of midwives. What made this experience special was to have the same midwife care for my daughter 4 years after her first labour. In the current climate of litigation and retention crisis within all fields in the NHS, to have Ruth as caring and attentive and knowledgeable as she is was a bonus and a pleasure. Having a baby is a memorable event in a woman’s life, good or bad and to be able to say your midwife is “AMAZING” is a joy and accolade for advertising the trust as a best practice centre.

My daughter, my future son in law, and I would highly recommend the Orchard birth suite to suitable other labouring women. Thank you so much Ruth for being so wonderful and an expert in your field. You are truly “with woman” and we will remember you always with fondness and kindness. Thank you