Christmas babies are the best gift – but newborns also got a present thanks to a midwife who went the ‘extra mile’

Christmas Day will always hold a special place in the hearts of some parents after they received the most unforgettable gift.

As residents across Shropshire, Telford and Mid Wales were tearing open their presents and preparing the turkey, some mums and dads were celebrating the birth of their newborn children.

The atmosphere was as festive inside the hospital as outside, with midwives donning tinsel and Santa hats to welcome the new arrivals. And one midwife, Beccy Ebrey, went the extra mile by collecting presents from local retailers to make special gift bags for babies delivered over the festive period.

The gift bags were labelled with special thanks to Mothercare (Telford), Boots, Tesco, Morrisons (Shrewsbury) and Little Rascals soft play for their amazing support.

Rachel Downes, ward manager on the Delivery Suite at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, said: “Beccy went the extra mile over Christmas by approaching local businesses to donate gifts, such as nappies, clothes, toiletries and books, so she could make 10 special gift bags.

“She is a credit to the organisation and someone who always lives the Trust’s Values – Proud To Care, Make It Happen, We Value Respect and Together We Achieve.”

Seven bundles of joy were welcomed on Christmas Day at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and a further five babies were born on Boxing Day. Nine babies were born on New Year’s Day.

Lorna Gunstone, ward manager on the Delivery Suite, added: “It was a busy festive period, but everyone was in high spirits and we have got lots of proud parents who are all very happy. When the parents are happy it makes the staff happy too. I couldn’t think of a better place to work over Christmas!”

• The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is the main provider of acute hospital care for almost 500,000 people from Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales. Patients come to us from Telford, Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch, Newtown and Welshpool.