It’s International Day of the Midwife , and one midwife and her colleagues went above and beyond in their caring support in the past year. Kristy Franklin and her colleagues were sent to support two separate groups of refugees who had been housed at hotels in Stockport, and had suffered terrible traumas on their journey there. One woman had given birth just before arrival, one was just about to give birth, and the groups had people with a whole range of medical problems, from serious to minor.

Kristy and colleagues showed outstanding care, assisting with problems beyond their usual workload in addition to their usual duties, and even helping the group with their laundry too. They forged a close bond with the refugees and are still in touch with them many months on. ‘We just wanted to treat them how we would want to be treated,’ says Kristy, ‘that’s what being a midwife is about.’