AN HONEYBOURNE mum of three has been shortlisted for a national award having just delivered her midwifery degree.
Former police officer Kate Massey has completed her studies at the University of Worcester and now finds herself shortlisted for the Inspiring Student in Health Education England’s HEAT Awards.
The 38-year-old swapped life on the beat for delivering babies once her three children were all at full time school.
“When I was pregnant with my second child I gave up my job in the police to be a full time mum, and to also care for a family friend who had cancer,” she said.
“It was that family friend, who has sadly since passed, who encouraged me, once the children were at school, to pursue midwifery – something I’d always talked about.”
After enrolling in a course at Evesham College, Kate attended an open day at the university before winning a place on the course.
“I also set myself the challenge to get fit – I knew that being a midwife would be a physical job, on my feet a lot and that I needed to improve my fitness. I took up running, joined a slimming club, and in six months I lost six stone,” she said.
“I still go running now – I’ve done three half marathons and last year I ran 1,000km over the course of the year.”
While studying, Kate was a key member of the Midwifery Society and also a ‘buddy’ for other students, offering advice, guidance and support.
Kate said she was surprised and proud to learn she’d been nominated and shortlisted for the HEAT Award.
“It’s a real privilege,” she said. “I loved my time at University and I’m really going to miss it – though of course I’m excited now about becoming a qualified midwife.”
The HEAT (healthcare education and training) Awards celebrate the importance education, training, leadership and workforce planning play in delivering high-quality compassionate healthcare in the NHS. The winners will be announced at an event held on 18 July in London.
Lynne Mason, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, said: “Kate came to mind immediately as a nominee for these awards because she lives out the values that underpin midwifery and the NHS by doing everything possible to support the health, wellbeing and happiness of the women and families she cares for and the colleagues with whom she works.”
