A CALLINGTON midwife who helped set up a new service at Derriford Hospital has won the runners-up prize with her team in a national award.

Kate Bickerstaffe is part of a group of midwives from the Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust shortlisted to the final three out of 200 entries for the Royal College of Midwifery Award for Team of the Year.

The women from the delivery suite at Derriford have developed a triage service where women who think they are in labour contact the hospital and speak to a midwife. The expectant mothers are then given advice and support and offered an open invitation to come into the triage service, which is on the labour ward.

If they are not in established labour or are in the early stages, they are given the option of going home and returning later.

Speaking on behalf of the team Angela Roberts said: 'The triage service is better for women and better for the hospital because it means, where it is safe to do so, women can be assessed by the triage service and opt to stay at home for longer where they are more comfortable and relaxed.

'This is better for the hospital because it means that women are not admitted to the labour ward unnecessarily or too early.'

Acting head of midwifery Nicky Phillips said: 'The fact our team have been shortlisted is testament to the really strong ethos and teamwork that has gone into developing this new service.

'The midwives in our core delivery suite have worked together, taken ownership, problem solved together and we are really proud of them.'