Life of maternity support worker saved thanks to colleagues at UHNM

The life of a maternity support worker was saved thanks to quick-thinking colleagues at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) after she suffered a stroke while at work. 

Marian Davies, who has worked at UHNM for 36 years, was beginning her night shift on the Royal Stoke University Hospital’s Delivery Suite when she suddenly lost her speech and movement. 

Recognising the symptoms of a stroke, Marian’s colleagues sprung into action, providing first aid whilst calling for help. 

Marian, a 70-year-old grandmother of three from Newcastle-under-Lyme, said: “I went out to work normally in the evening and was catching up with the day staff when suddenly I couldn’t speak and slumped down in the chair. My colleagues were asking what’s wrong and I couldn’t answer. I could hear everything that was going on, but I couldn’t do anything. 

“Everybody was rallying around me, there was a lot of people in the room. I remember them asking for the phone number of my daughter Hannah, who is a matron at Royal Stoke, but I couldn’t say or use my hands.

“I didn’t feel any pain, but remember thinking am I having a stroke and is this the end. The next thing I knew the stroke team and paramedics arrived.”

Marian was taken to the Emergency Department (ED) where a CT scan confirmed she had suffered a stroke. 

Marian’s daughter, Hannah Davies-Platt, matron for quality and safety at UHNM, said: “Mum’s always worked weekends for the last 30 years so went to work as normal on the Sunday evening. I got a phone call from one of the midwives to say she’s been taken ill and could you and the family come to ED. 

“As she’s had a stroke, you automatically jump to the worst conclusion and it’s going to be catastrophic. Mum’s such an independent person, she was still at work at 70 and looks after the family, so it would have been her worst nightmare to be dependent on anybody. But we knew she was in the right place, and she was safe. 

“When we arrived, the midwife who was with mum was just amazing. She went through what happened with me and my sister, that she was sat at the desk talking then suddenly she couldn’t move or talk. Within seconds they had got her into one of the side rooms and called the right people. Thankfully, there was an anaesthetist who was working in the department who was able to take bloods, put in a cannula and call clinical colleagues.”

Marion spent two weeks in the care of UHNM recovering from the stroke.

In recognition of their actions, staff involved in the care of Marian were presented with UHNM’s Chief Executive Award.                                                                                                                                        

Dr Simon Constable, UHNM Chief Executive, said: “I was thrilled to present Marian’s colleagues on the Delivery Suite with my own award for a completely different reason to what they do on a daily basis. Everybody came together as a team to look after one of their own, in a sphere outside of their usual clinical expertise. Their story really struck at the heart of everything about care and compassion. Their actions had a positive effect on the outcome, and I was delighted to see Marian herself attend the presentation.”

Reflecting on her stroke, Marian said: “I’d say I’m now 95 per-cent better. My colleagues on the Delivery Suite were just amazing and it was a good outcome with everybody acting so quickly. I’ve worked with my maternity colleagues for many years, and this makes me feel really proud of them. They are amazing bunch of people, not just in their jobs but personally too. I can’t thank them enough, if it wasn’t for them acting so quickly I wouldn’t be here today.”

Hannah said: “When you work in the hospital, you know that time is brain with a stroke, and if she was at home, it could have been a different outcome. The midwives’ professionalism and kindness was incredible. I’m so grateful for everything they did that night looking after mum. They treated her like a family member, and we owe them so much.”

Thanks to the actions of her colleagues, Marian plans to return to part-time work later in the year following the stroke on Sunday 20 October. 

She added: “I just love my job, the patient contact, and I work with some wonderful people.”