Community midwife Heather Ellis was awarded the prestigious title at a special ceremony held in the antenatal clinic at Lincoln County Hospital's maternity unit.

A MIDWIFE who is now delivering a second generation of babies has been crowned Midwife Of The Year 2010.

Community midwife Heather Ellis was awarded the prestigious title at a special ceremony held in the antenatal clinic at Lincoln County Hospital's maternity unit yesterday.

Heather Ellis with Helen Pennington, 32, and her 11-week-old daughter Chloe, and Kirsty Oliver-Dallas, 27, with six-month-old Archie. Both mums nominated Heather for the care she took of them.

It is the fifth year the awards have been presented by the Lincoln branch of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), giving new mums and dads the chance to nominate their favourite midwife as a thank-you for their care and support.

Mrs Ellis first joined Lincoln County Hospital as a midwife in 1985 and for the past 18 years has worked as a community midwife.

She used to cover the Monks Road area of the city, but has recently moved to cover the North Hykeham surgeries.

Mrs Ellis, a mum-of-one, said she was now delivering the babies of mums who she delivered when they were born.

She said: "I was speechless when I found out I had won because I'm just doing my job.

"It's one of those jobs you want to do because, for a short time, you are really involved in a family's life. Working in the community, we do a lot of home births and are involved in the holistic care of ladies giving them confidence to have a home birth or to breast feed.

"You really get to see them develop and blossom."

Priscilla Wozniak was awarded the runner-up position in the competition, after being given a commendation in the awards two years ago.

Mrs Wozniak, mum of five-year-old Katie, has worked on the labour ward at Lincoln County Hospital for six years.

She said: "I can't imagine not being a midwife. I've had some fantastic teachers and role models.

"I'm now working with the student midwives and it's my turn to pass on my experience and clinical skills to them."

Alison Brodrick, who recently left the labour ward at Lincoln County Hospital to work in Sheffield, received a commendation, as did Emily Exell, breastfeeding support co-ordinator at Lincoln County Hospital.

Pippa Webb, who previously worked on the postnatal ward at the hospital and now works on the labour ward, was also given a commendation. And former Midwife Of The Year winner Luretta Johnson, community midwife in the Welton and Dunholme area, was given a special award for "sustained excellence".