Nominate a midwife or team who made a difference in your life: Scotland’s Health Awards 2025 now open

Now families and peers across Scotland are being invited to celebrate these incredible professionals by nominating them for The Midwife of the Year Award, sponsored by the Royal College of Midwives.

The award is part of the annual Scotland’s Health Awards, sponsored by The Scotsman.

While mums and families experience new life and new beginnings, they will then gradually move on to the next chapter. But the midwives of Scotland continue to do what they do, 24-7. Their door never closes, and a new stream of people will always need them.

The midwife is part of a special and memorable time

Jaki Lambert, Country Director of the Royal College of Midwives in Scotland, says: “We’re very lucky in Scotland that we have brilliant midwifery and maternity services.

“We know that every single day, midwives and maternity care assistants across Scotland are playing a part in families making memories that stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Previous winners of the award have included Melissa Lindsay from Orkney, who was recognised for her extraordinary work creating bereavement services in her community.

The midwives who are going above and beyond

Says Jaki: “The journey women and families take is special, memorable and completely individual. Navigating the choices, sharing hopes and dreams, and managing everyday reality can be daunting. Midwives have the privilege of sharing that journey whatever route it takes, by your side, so you feel safe, heard and cared for Other winners have included a team from Glasgow, who, says Jaki, provided continuity of care for women who really welcomed and benefitted from that additional support.

Jaki says: “For women that felt they don’t ever have anyone in their corner, they absolutely had these midwives going above and beyond to make sure that they were being the best mums they could be.”

While we mainly think of midwives being, literally, “at the receiving end” of childbirth, they are there promoting health and offering support for mums and families for months, before, during and after this life-changing event.

Do you have a story to tell?

Has a midwife made an extraordinary impact on your life?

Says Jaki: “Around 50,000 women every year in Scotland have midwives beside them for nine months.

“That is such a huge intervention in the lives of women and families across Scotland, and it’s happening every year.

“We want voices to be heard on how care is delivered and how midwives are making a difference to people’s lives.

“Midwives are looking after women and families every single day of the year. There’s no doors that are shut up at the end of the day. It’s 24/7 every single day.”

How to nominate in The Midwife of the Year Award

If you want to say thank you, and honour the care from a midwife, or a team, that made a difference to your life, then nominate them for The Midwife of the Year Award sponsored by the Royal College of Midwives

Nominations are now open - follow the link here.

Finalists will be celebrated at a special awards evening in November.

Says Jaki: “For us it’s important that midwives are being seen and their important contribution for current and future generations realized. It’s not often that midwives are heard and celebrated.

“We are only 2% of the workforce of the NHS, yet we have a huge impact on many families’ lives now and impacting on the future health of the whole family.”