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Excellence in bereavement care nominated for Nursing Times Award

Posted: 22 May 2024

Samantha Behagg, Lead Bereavement Midwife

Samantha Behagg, Lead Bereavement Midwife, at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, has been nominated for the 2024 Nursing Times Midwife of the Year Award.

Her nomination will come as no surprise to those familiar with Sam’s exceptional and compassionate care for bereaved families.

Sam provides support to families at all stages of the pregnancy journey across antenatal, labour, and postnatal settings. Her remarkable ability to create a safe and comforting environment for families facing unimaginable loss really sets her apart. She guides families through difficult decisions with grace and resilience, leaving a lasting impact on those she serves.

Chief Nurse Kelly McGovern says: "Sam’s nomination for the Nursing Times Award is a testament to her commitment to provide compassionate care during life’s most challenging moments. Her tireless efforts and extraordinary empathy make her a deserving candidate for this award."

Sam has led the Trust’s bereavement service through a remarkable transformation bringing her recognition both internally and beyond the local community.

She was shortlisted in the Trust’s annual staff awards in 2019 as a ‘rising star’ and received ‘special recognition’ for Bereavement Midwife of the Year in the 2024 Mariposa Awards. The Mariposa Awards celebrate excellence in bereavement care across the NHS and society.

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  1. For more information, please contact the communications team on: 01923 436280 or email: westherts.communications@nhs.net. Out of hours, please call the Watford General Hospital switchboard on 01923 244366 and ask for the on call communications manager.
  2. West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves people from across Hertfordshire, north London and further afield. It operates from three hospitals; Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead. The trust has a catchment area of over 600,000 people and is one of the largest employers locally, with around 5,800 staff and volunteers.
  3. For more information about our hospitals, visit the trust website. You can also join us on Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube and LinkedIn @WestHertsNHS