Golden retirement for Middlesex Chief Midwifery Officer
on 13 December 2019
West Middlesex University Hospital Chief Midwifery Officer Tonie Neville was given a special send off for her retirement after serving over 35 years with the Trust and 40 years with the NHS.
To mark her service, Tonie was presented with a prestigious Gold Award from Chief Midwifery Officer for England Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE.
Tonie, who was the first non-medical appointment to Clinical Director at the Trust, was presented with her award during a farewell lunch hosted by Trust Chief Executive Lesley Watts and Chief Nurse Pippa Nightingale.
Her former colleagues travelled far and wide to celebrate her achievement.
Chief Midwifery Officer, NHS England and NHS Improvement, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE, said: “It was a privilege to honour Tonie Neville with a gold Chief Midwifery Officer medal for her lifetime contribution to midwifery, maternity services and her personal contribution to women, babies and their families, who have used maternity services.
“As a midwife for over 35 years and a leader of people, she leaves a legacy of successful CQC assessments, CNST assessment and progressive baby friendly plans.”
Tonie began her career as a midwife shortly after her sister had children at West Middlesex University Hospital. She was inspired and decided social work was not for her.
After her training, Tonie landed a role as a Community Midwife eight months after qualifying. She was based in the Brentford and Isleworth area where she became part of a team who pioneered the domino scheme led by a Consultant at the Trust who founded it all.
Tonie continued to follow her passion of midwifery, developing her skills and broadening her network to become an advocate for midwifery and the delivery of maternity services.
Chief Nurse at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Pippa Nightingale, said: “Tonie is an inspirational Midwifery leader who has worked as a Midwife for 35 years at Queen Mary’s Maternity unit at West Middlesex hospital. Tonie has led the service for 22 years as Head of Midwifery. Her leadership has ensured the maternity service has provided the highest quality care to local women and babies using the service.”
Upon receiving her award, Tonie said: “Leaving the service in the very capable hands of people who love Midwifery and are women centric, I’m proud of the team and the tremendous work that we all do and so happy that I was part of it all, we were all just like a family.”