A COLWYN Bay midwife has been rewarded for 32 years of service with an award from ITV1 breakfast show Daybreak.
Pat Smailes, a community midwife based at Colwyn Bay Community Hospital, was named one of the show’s Health Heroes on Friday, receiving the award live on air from TV’s Dr Hilary Jones.
Fellow midwives kept the nomination a surprise from Pat by telling her she was due to meet dignitaries visiting the hospital.
Instead she was greeted by more than 100 former patients who turned up to celebrate her career.
Pat, who dedicated her award to her colleagues, said: “It was absolutely amazing, I’m very very humbled by the whole thing.
“It was fantastic, seeing so many people. It’s a lot of work getting children dressed and ready at that time of the morning, and there were so many faces I’ve seen over the years.
“I work with a wonderful team and feel that this award is for all of them.
“Anne Hughes is my work-wife, we’ve had a fantastic relationship for 27 years, and we enable each other to work in the way we do.”
Pat was one of five healthcare workers from across the UK to be given awards as part of a week long celebration of healthcare workers, having been nominated by fellow midwife Pat Martin.
She said: “I nominated Pat for this award because she’s dedicated to her work as a community midwife as well as being a wonderful person. It’s been very difficult keeping this a secret from Pat over the last few weeks but she’s definitely a worthy winner.
“All Pat’s colleagues and patients think the world of her, the work she does goes over and above what’s expected of her and that’s why she’s so special.”