International year of the nurse and the midwife: Alison Byrne

March 2, 2020

This year marks International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, a campaign by the World Health Organisation in honour of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.

Nurses and midwives play a vital role in providing health services in our workplace. They devote their lives to caring for mothers and children; giving lifesaving immunisations and health advice; looking after older people and generally meeting everyday essential health needs. They are often the first and only point of care in their communities. Throughout the year we will be highlighting some of our nurses, HCAs and midwives who are making a difference to our patients.

Today we feature Alison Byrne, FGM specialist midwife.

She’s the caring midwife who victims of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) receive help from when they are in need of treatment. Alison Byrne has been dedicated to the specialist FGM service since it was conceived in 2002 to treat and care for pregnant women within the West Midlands.

The mum-of-two joined Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust two years ago to develop the service further within the area and played a lead role in the opening of a new FGM clinic for non-pregnant women which will be run by the organisation.

Alison has also been recognised for her hard work around FGM, winning a Royal College of Midwives award.

Do you know a nurse, HCA or midwife who is gong above and beyond to deliver quality care? Contact the communications team swb-tr.SWBH-GM-Staff-Communications@nhs.net