10 October 2017

Julia Brooks has helped to deliver hundreds of babies across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin in a career that has spanned 41 years.

Now Julia, a senior midwife with The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), will say goodbye to the job, which she says has been ‘a real privilege’.

Julia, who is Maternity Outpatients Ward Manager at Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford, will retire on October 16 after 41 years with the NHS, and 33 years with SaTH. She trained as a nurse and midwife in London before returning to her home county of Shropshire in 1984. She worked as a midwife, before becoming a ward manager four years ago, delivering her last baby in 2013.

Julia Brooks (centre) with colleagues Claire Eagleton (L) and Lindsey Reid (R)

Julia said: “I have certainly enjoyed my career. The best thing is that moment when you are with a family and a new baby arrives – it is such a special moment. To be able to support women through that time of their lives has been a real privilege and I am very proud of that. I couldn’t put a figure on how many babies that I have helped to deliver over the years, but it would certainly be in the hundreds!”

Deirdre Fowler, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Quality, said: “Everyone will be sad to wave goodbye to Julia, who will be a familiar face to so many in the county. I would like to thank Julia for the incredible job she has done, and to take this opportunity to wish her all the very best in her retirement.”

Colleagues said goodbye to Julia with a retirement party last week at PRH and a trip on the Sabrina River Boat. Julia, who has three grown-up children, plans to spend her retirement travelling with her husband, and indulge in her love of gardening.