Parliamentary recognition for Mid Yorkshire Specialist Midwife | News

Pictured left to right: Shelly Gascoigne and Charlotte Jaques 

The Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group, a coalition of organisations committed to reducing rates of smoking in pregnancy, came together last week to launch the manifesto for smokefree beginnings at an event in Parliament to celebrate the group’s 10-year anniversary.
 
Hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health and the APPG on Baby Loss, the event also served as an opportunity to celebrate the efforts of maternity professionals in supporting women to have smokefree pregnancies.

The Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group is a partnership between the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the voluntary sector and academia.
 
Shelly Gascoigne is the Specialist Midwife for Smokefree Pregnancy at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust. One of five professionals recognised for their work at the event, Shelly said: “I feel truly honoured to have been acknowledged by my colleagues and all of those organisations which make up the Challenge Group. Our whole maternity service has worked exceptionally hard to achieve our excellent progress.
 
“Maternal smoking is a leading cause of poor birth outcomes including stillbirth and miscarriage and it increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. For this reason, the manifesto sets out six high-impact recommendations including passing legislation to raise the age of sale and setting a new target to more-than halve rates of maternal smoking, from 8.8% nationally to 4% by 2030.
 
“Clearly, stopping smoking is one of the most important things women can do in pregnancy to ensure the health and development of their baby so it’s really important to me that they feel supported to be smokefree during pregnancy. Our Trust has a new in-house Smokefree Pregnancy Service which we hope will make that even more possible.”

Charlotte Jaques, Wakefield Council Public Health Partnership Commissioning Manager, nominated Shelly for the award saying: “Shelly is an absolute star. Without her I feel we would not be where we are today. She has had a significant impact on reducing smoking prevalence in Wakefield, due to her determination and dedication.”

Smoking at time of delivery (SATOD) rates across the Trust footprint have reduced from 18.6% in 2017 to 12.7% in 2022, and this year to date, the figure is 10%.

Dr Anne-Marie Henshaw, the Trust’s Director of Midwifery and Women’s Health, added: “I am thrilled that Shelly has received such wonderful recognition for her outstanding contribution in the reduction of smoking in pregnancy - it is truly deserved.”