January's Hospital Hero - Marta Szczepaniak
28 January 2015
Hospital Heroes
January's Hospital Hero is Benfleet ward healthcare assistant, Marta Szczepaniak.
Marta was on a night shift and heading back to her ward after
her break when she and a colleague were faced with a pregnant woman
in labour by a lift.
The mother had initially gone into labour at home at around
10pm, but things progressed so quickly she was soon on her way to
the hospital with her partner. The couple managed to make it to a
lift before it became evident that the baby was on its way.
Marta went out of her way and out of her comfort zone, having
never delivered a baby before. Her quick thinking ensured that the
baby was delivered safely and that both mum and baby were fine when
they got to the maternity ward. She even visited them before and
after her shifts in the days following to check on their
progress.
Marta was nominated by communications and engagement manager,
Dean Newman, who covered the story for the hospital magazine,The
Look.
"Having met Marta she has taken it all in her stride saying that
she was only doing her job, even though it is something way above
and beyond her role," he said.
"I love the fact that it just made her feel so proud as a mum, a
woman and as a member of nursing staff at Southend Hospital. Marta
well and truly puts the care in healthcare assistant."