Last night, we had the privilege of hosting the UK Maternity Unit Marvels (MUM) Awards 2025, a night dedicated to celebrating incredible healthcare professionals who go above and beyond to ensure safe and compassionate maternity and neonatal care.
Held in the historic Palace of Westminster, the evening brought together midwives, obstetricians, neonatal teams, and healthcare leaders to recognise outstanding dedication, teamwork, and innovation across the UK’s maternity and neonatal services.
A Night of Recognition and Gratitude
As a charity working closely with healthcare professionals, Baby Lifeline understands the immense pressure these teams face daily. The UK MUM Awards™ is our way of saying thank you to those who make a profound difference in the lives of families, often in the most challenging circumstances.
This year’s nominations, submitted by both families and colleagues, highlighted exceptional care and dedication to improving services across the UK. From teams providing life-saving interventions in critical moments to those improving the wellbeing of colleagues, every nomination was a testament to commitment and compassion.
We were proud to introduce new workforce categories this year, recognising teams that are investing in the future of maternity and neonatal care through education, retention, wellbeing, collaboration, and service improvements.
Meet the 2025 UK MUM Award Winners
Family-Nominated Winners
These awards celebrate the incredible impact healthcare professionals have on families, often during the most vulnerable moments of their lives:
Providing exceptional care during complications in pregnancy and labour
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by Kristen Duffy
“I can’t thank those teams enough for the support they have given me in both of my pregnancies, deliveries, and neonatal care. I will be forever grateful for the care and support they gave not only to me but also to my husband and other children.”
Judges’ Comments: Holistic care provided by the whole perinatal team have had a huge impact on this family.
Supporting women with their mental health
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by Abi Leonard
“Sydney and Dr Chan went above and beyond to make me feel safe, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. They have both changed my world by giving me my babies safely, and for that, I will always be incredibly grateful.”
Judges’ Comments: All too often mental health is seen as a second place resource. With mental health being one of MBRACCE continued risks this case shows how support can go along way in reducing mental health impact This is outstanding individualized care. Ensuring that the woman was empowered and kept safe with a positive outcome for all.A team that clearly treats everyone as individuals ensuring that whatever trauma they have experienced beforehand they are treated with care and respect.
Excellence in neonatal care (Joint winners)
Swansea Bay University Health Board
Nominated by Rachel Stonehouse
“Imogen is now a happy healthy two-year-old, but without their fast-acting care and what they do for those babies every day, she wouldn’t be here. We will forever be grateful for them.”
Judges’ Comments: What a wonderful story of a little girl who was born so small and premature. Only a few years ago babies born at this gestational age would not have survived, yet with outstanding and family centered care, miracles do happen. Clearly an outstanding unit caring for the whole family with care, competence and understanding.
Excellence in neonatal care (Joint winners)
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by Kristen Duffy
Judges’ Comments: Unusually kind care – over and above call of duty Good example of listening and supporting family as individuals not as part of the wider NHS. The approaches used are inclusive, supportive and directed at the family Holistic care provided by the whole perinatal team have had a huge impact on this family.I thought this was a wonderful illustration of the fact that caring for women in labour is about so much more than their physical care. These teams are clearly providing outstanding care not just for women in labour but their premature babies and the wider family. Supporting everyone through such a traumatic and stressful time is hard enough but going that step further and providing Ipads to assist with mums bonding with her baby shows their absolute commitment to providing quality care for all the family.
Excellent care during the pandemic
East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
Nominated by Charlotte Taylor
“Dr Rabia and her team kept me safe throughout my pregnancy when I felt especially vulnerable. I honestly feel like Dr Rabia went over and above for me, even looking after me during time off when she had her own family to take care of at home. Her team were amazing throughout too, and I could not thank them more.”
Judges’ Comments: Supportive and excellent care by going the extra mile. Being receptive to the mum’s needs builds the rapport needed in difficult situations – they certainly achieved that here Outstanding care provided in a complex pregnancy that resulted in a positive outcome. Dr Rabia embodies the caring ethos that all doctors should aspire to.High risk pregnancy during Covid, impressively managed by the team. At a time when all hospitals were under immense pressure and reacting to circumstances that they had not encoutered before only an outstanding department could have managed to provide care of this quality.
Exceptional care following previous loss
Isle of Wight NHS Trust
Nominated by Sophia Whitesmith
“This team’s ability to make us feel valued, respected, and supported through both joyful and sorrowful times is a testament to their passion for their work and their genuine care for the families they serve. Their hard work, dedication, and compassion deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged, as they have touched our lives and those of many others in ways that words alone cannot fully express.”
Judges’ Comments: A great story highlighting the compassion, care and commitment of the midwifery staff and the impact this has on a woman’s life. A very difficult time for this mum, the incredible support from the midwives stands out. This is a wonderful tribute to what is obviously an exceptional team who take the care of their patients very seriously. Providing support to women and their families through ‘joyful and sorrowful’ times says it all.
Workforce-Nominated Winners
Recognising teams dedicated to improving safety, collaboration, and innovation within the NHS:
Improving Staff Retention and Wellbeing
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by Sharon Andrews
“Through continuous learning, professional development, and a culture of safety and support, significant strides have been made in enhancing maternity outcomes, providing high-quality care for women and their families and enhancing staff experience.”
Judges’ Comments: This trust have clearly made a serious commitment to supporting their staff. It is easy to underestimate the profound nature of working in maternity and this trust in putting in psychiatric support has demonstrated its insight and dedication to patient safety in supporting all it’s staff in the their well being and mental health in a really commendable way.Not sure this is purely dedicated to maternity services as mentions ‘the trust’. Great work on improving the PMA ratios Growth in PMA roles is impressive as is the focus on staff psychological wellbeing. More data on evaluation of impact would have strengthened this, but a good multi-faceted application to workforce retention.
Investing in Education and Skills
East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
Nominated by Amy Hunt
“We work exceptionally hard to ensure our compliance meets the required standards and work together to ensure education and knowledge is shared at every opportunity.”
Judges’ Comments: Such a comprehensive and thoughtful approach that affords as much effort and support to cultural factors as to technical. Walk rounds to understand colleagues struggles with compliance is a great way to get under the skin of work as happens vs imagined.Great examples of additional training outside of the core competency framework. Particularly like the work around microaggressions and cultural awareness. This is such a comprehensive response to training needs A good multi-faceted approach to training needs.
Promoting Collaboration and Teamworking (Joint winners)
Hywel Dda Health Board
Nominated by Tipswalo Day
“The passion and perseverance of the Risk and Governance team, since the inception of this quality improvement project, has resulted in a remarkable ripple effect across the directorate with an improved culture of safety, learning and psychological safety.”
Judges’ Comments: This nomination really demonstrates so clearly the importance of creating a psychologically safe environment to allow care to be as safe as possible. This team are able to measure their change and demonstrate the difference they have made clearly – well done.Great example of using data to drive improvements I really like the way this project was designed in response to learning from investigations and shows such clear evidence of addressing the key issues. An excellent example of team working to change culture and improve outcomes.
Promoting Collaboration and Teamworking (Joint winners)
Suffolk and North-East Essex LMNS
Nominated by Rosemarie Bates
“It is a team where everyone’s contribution is valued and respected.”
Judges’ Comments: Great team work to address the terrible effects of smoking on families in a non-judgemental, safe way across the system for maximum effect Great initiative will certainly reduce poor perinatal outcomes. A great example of public health interventions to improve outcomes.
Achieving Excellence Through Service Improvements (Joint winners)
Hywel Dda Health Board
Nominated by Tipswalo Day
Judges’ Comments: Clear demonstration of service improvement requiring the right culture to be in place for success. Great work making a difference to staff and families. Great example of empowering staff and improving perinatal outcomes. Excellent example of changing culture and reducing inequalities.
Achieving Excellence Through Service Improvements (Joint winners)
Digital Midwives Bridging the Digital Divide
Across different organisations
Nominated by Delyse Maidman
“The Digital Midwives’ innovative approach has not only enhanced the quality of care but has also contributed to a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system.”
Judges’ Comments: Well done to the team for embracing this national programme so heartily. The focus on improving care for marginalised women is really important. Good example of support for digital equity.
National Winners
Three outstanding teams were recognised as National Winners for their exceptional contributions to maternity and neonatal care. For the nominations made by the workforce, the judges chose two national winners:
- Hywel Dda Health Board – Recognised for their commitment to collaboration, service improvements, and fostering a culture of safety and learning.
- Suffolk and North-East Essex LMNS – Celebrated for their dedication to teamwork and ensuring that every voice in the maternity workforce is valued and respected.
- East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust – Celebrated for their care for Charlotte and her baby, Theo, during the pandemic.
These teams have set a national benchmark for excellence, making a lasting impact on maternity care across the UK.
An Evening of Inspiration
The unbeatable awards venue was made possible our host by The Rt Hon. the Lord Darzi of Denham OM KBE, and we gave a welcoming address to our 150 guests in the Members’ Dining Room. He praised the hard work and dedication of professionals in challenging circumstances.
TV Presenter and Baby Lifeline Patron, Nick Owen, was our Master of Ceremonies, and we were honoured to have two cherished members of the Baby Lifeline family Dr Eddie Morris CBE, and Call the Midwife star Linda Bassett, presenting the awards.
This event would not have been possible without our incredible sponsors: Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, Leigh Day Solicitors, and Baby Lifeline Training. A special thank you also goes to Center Parcs for their generosity in providing a well-deserved short break for the family who nominated this year’s national winning story.
Looking Ahead
The UK MUM Awards 2025 may be over, but the work to improve maternity safety and support the NHS continues. Baby Lifeline remains committed to ensuring the best possible care for mothers, babies, and families across the UK.
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Stay Tuned!
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing the inspiring stories behind this year’s incredible nominations in more detail. Follow us on socials to hear these remarkable stories of dedication, compassion, and teamwork.
