Sue Lovell (pictured above, taken pre-pandemic), our Director of Midwifery, retired on Friday 25 February, after 28 years at our Trust.

While her first order of the day is to enjoy a break, it won’t be long until her skills are called upon again as her year-old Alsatian Mila needs a hip replacement, so Sue will be helping to nurse her back to health!

Sue, 58, said: “I have mixed feelings about leaving. I’m sad to be leaving the team but I’m looking forward to the next stage in my life.

“I love working with the women and their babies, and I love the team spirit we have at our Trust. I’d also like to thank everyone for their support over the years, I wouldn’t have got where I am without it.”

Sue was given a great send off at Queen’s Hospital on her last day, which included an intricately crafted cake (pictured below) representing our Maternity department, made by one of our midwives, Nana Osei-mensah.

Kathryn Halford, our Chief Nurse, said: “I have no idea how many babies Sue has delivered during her time at our Trust, but I am sure that every one would have been delivered with kindness and compassion.

“Sue is a great role model who has led the unit during some of its most difficult times. She’s championed the voice of the women and sought to meet the needs of the very diverse population we serve. We will miss her cheerful disposition and wish her well in her retirement.”

Sue Calder, antenatal clinics and inpatient matron in our Maternity department, added: “Sue has been a great leader for our team and someone to aspire to.

“She has seen us through many changes, good times and not so good. Whatever the challenges we’ve faced she always remained positive. As she has worked here for a long time, she is well known by many staff and will be greatly missed. We wish her lots of well-deserved rest in her retirement.”

Sue, who has two sons, had wanted to be a midwife since she was a little girl and continued to love it throughout her career. Her numerous achievements include being named the London region’s Midwife of the Year in the 2018 awards.

She added: “I’m very proud of everything I’ve achieved, including most recently being one of the first trusts to introduce a midwifery degree apprenticeship, which offers another route into midwifery for our maternity support workers.”

Besides caring for Mila, Sue will also be spending more time with her grandchildren in retirement, and plans to relocate to the Essex/Suffolk border with husband Barry, a retired police officer.

Read more about Sue in her In Conversation With interview.