Every Generation online

In 1997 Paulette Lewis, an accomplished Head of Midwifery with many years experience was headhunted by Mayday University Hospital, to help boost an ailing, workforce in Midwifery services. The workforce was suffering from low morale and negative local press coverage. Recruitment and retention was causing a serious problem and this had an impact on the confidence of the users of the service with the Croydon area.

At the time the Midwifery services were at an all time low, with many staff leaving the unit to work elsewhere. Many women were also opting to have their babies elsewhere. However, Paulette turned the department around by putting her staff at the top of the agenda, believing that this was the hub of any improvement that would take place. She introduced better training and development opportunities, mentorship and preceptorship, flexible working arrangements to meet the needs of the staff and the service. She also negotiated monies from the Trust and the Health Authority to invest in a total refurbishment of the Maternity Unit. This was to make the Unit a home from home environment for the women and a pleasant place for staff to work.

These actions had the effect of enhancing the motivation of staff to develop all aspects of their professional career and their own self belief. Above all Paulette instilled empowerment to her staff.

The enhancement programme went into full effect. The benefits from the new working practices resulted in the upsurge in the amount of women having children from 3,000 to 4,500 in a year; hence encouraged more women to trust us with their care. So much so was the improvement , the Maternity department was presented with a Silver Award for Excellence in the NHS 2000, in recognition of the special contribution to the health care for Croydon people.

Since then, the Midwifery Department has gone from strength to strength, gaining more accolades; including a commendation in the Health and Social Care Awards 2002 for supporting Staff to support mothers by the introduction of flexible working, improving the working lives of its staff, thus improving the service given to mothers and their families in Croydon. This was presented by The Secretary of State for Health in the presence of HRH Prince of Wales.

All this is attributed to Paulette Lewis, whose vision, drive, and sense of purposes helped make it happen.

She also is a member of various committees and Vice President of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (UK), School Governor in Croydon.

She still finds time to present important papers both at national and overseas conferences thus promoting the maternity units forward thinking progress and influences decision making processes in improving the services to women and their families both locally, nationally and internationally.

Paulette has a passion for life. She believes in hard work, determination, never giving up easily, equity for all and a belief in herself. She has a drive that is unparalleled and her infectious intelligence, tenacity and zest rub off on anyone she’s around. During her career path more and more people are sharing her vision, because she has shown them that they really can become what they want to.

She is undoubtedly one of the fastest rising entrepreneurial Black Women in Great Britain; her establishment and achievements are one which should be acknowledged. She is an asset to Women of Colour, but more importantly, to mankind.

Articles

Croydon Guardian - 20/11/02
Croydon Primary Care Trust - 22/11/02
Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust Staff Newsletter - December 2002


	Empowering and influencing the black community through history, family genealogy and heritage. Supported by the Musician Ronnie Laws