Brigid started her nursing career in September 1976 at Belfast City Hospital. After starting training in midwifery, she qualified as a state certified midwife in 1981 and started work as a staff midwife in the Waveney Hospital, Ballymena.

She moved to Cushendall Hospital three years later and when it closed, moved to her present workplace at the Glens of Antrim medical centre, Cushendall.

As well as working as a part-time community midwife, she progressed to management level as a community midwifery manager in April 2006. She is also a supervisor of 15 hospital midwives.

In terms of that side of the health service, Brigid has noted a number of changes. One of these is the choice that women have about their healthcare.

“Women in general are better educated and are more knowledgeable than they were 60 years ago,” she said.

“They are certainly more articulate about their healthcare needs and wants. They have more choice about types of care and midwives offer more evidence-based information to assist ‘informed choice’.”

With regards to midwifery as a career, she says that student midwives are now educated to a higher level, either holding entry level diplomas or taking degrees. A direct entry three-year course is now available at Queen’s University, whereas previously midwives had to study nursing before specialising.

Brigid said that the past six decades have seen women with more complex healthcare needs more readily falling pregnant and having babies - including women with serious medical problems.

“There is also more obesity, more assisted fertilization, more multiple pregnancies, better survival rates for premature babies and higher Caesarean section rates,” she added. “Unfortunately the outcome of such pregnancies is not always positive and the midwife has a leading role in supporting women and their families in these circumstances.”

In terms of the administration of the NHS, Brigid said that the merging of three trusts into one and the amalgamation of maternity and midwifery services in the area had presented many challenges for the managers and the midwives, given that there is currently a regional shortage of midwives.

“This shortage affects all areas, particularly in the community sectors where experienced midwives are required as they work alone and make autonomous decisions about the care of the mothers and babies,” she added.

Other increases in workload over the years have included more midwife-led antenatal clinics, more immigrant workers having babies in the Province, increased breastfeeding rates and advanced skills such as examination of the newborn.

“Communication systems have improved with the use of e-mail and internet access.