22
May
2023
|
16:20
Europe/Amsterdam

Slimming World sponsors RCM’s Excellence in Midwifery for Public Health award

Summary

Slimming World has sponsored this year’s Excellence in Midwifery for Public Health award at the Royal College of Midwives annual awards, recognising those who have gone above and beyond to improve public health.

Susan McAuliffe, a midwife from Manchester has won the award in recognition of her leading contribution to a project that has increased healthy eating among vulnerable pregnant women across Greater Manchester.

Susan, Public Health Matron at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, spotted that as many as 5000 eligible pregnant women across Manchester were not claiming money for fruit and vegetables through the Healthy Start Scheme and so set out to increase its uptake. The NHS initiative was introduced to help women who are pregnant or have young children and are receiving benefits, buy foods essential for a healthy, balanced diet.  

Alexandra Clark, Registered Nutritionist at Slimming World, says: “We’re thrilled to support the Excellence in Midwifery for Public Health award, especially this year with its focus on healthy eating among vulnerable pregnant women. We know through our own recent research into the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis that half of UK adults say increasing food costs are making it harder to make healthy food choices.

Alexandra Clark, Registered Nutritionist at Slimming World

Due to Susan’s care and dedication, pregnant women, not just in her care, but across the whole of Manchester, are being supported to lead healthier lives now and in the future.

Alexandra Clark, Registered Nutritionist at Slimming World

RCM Chief Executive, Gill Walton says: “This is an incredible story of a dedicated midwife creating a game-changing initiative across a whole city that is leading to healthier women, healthier pregnancies, and healthier babies. She not only looked within her own maternity services to change things, but without as well, highlighting how important multi-agency collaboration is to the health of women in pregnancy. This is certainly a model that could be replicated in cities across the UK, and for this Susan is a truly inspirational winner.”

Susan’s leading role saw her working with several agencies including maternity services, health visitors and other agencies - including the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and the Manchester Central Food Bank - to raise awareness of Healthy Start Scheme grants among those supporting women. She also organised targeted support in specific areas across the city, where high numbers of women were missing out on claiming. This has resulted in claims across the city increasing from 65% to 73% with expectations of it climbing further.

Alongside this, Susan is also helping to produce a training video and slides as part of a Manchester Multiagency Task force.

Alex continues: “Slimming World is the only weight management organisation that supports pregnant and breastfeeding women with a healthier lifestyle, involving their midwife and healthcare team throughout.

“We have been working in partnership with the RCM for several years and our focus isn’t to encourage weight loss during pregnancy, but to support women to adopt a balanced, healthy diet to prevent excess weight gain. Midwives are at the heart of this partnership, and we want to ensure they continue to be supported in the exceptional work they do.”

Slimming World and the RCM have created a dedicated website to help women successfully manage their weight healthily before, during and following the birth of their child, while breastfeeding.  

About Slimming World

Slimming World was founded by Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE in Derbyshire in 1969 and has become the UK and Ireland’s leading weight loss organisation with more people choosing to attend a Slimming World group each week than any other weight loss programme. We support hundreds of thousands of people, both in our groups and online, to lose weight and to adopt new habits to stay slim for life. 

Over the years our founding principles haven’t changed: 

· Our unique programme is based on a powerfully motivating support system called IMAGE (Individual Motivation and Group Experience) Therapy. Underpinned by a deep understanding of the psychology of overweight people, and incorporating the most effective sustainable behaviour change techniques, IMAGE Therapy is designed to inspire and motivate slimmers to make positive changes and to develop new, healthier habits around food and activity. 

· Food Optimising is our healthy eating plan, based on the liberating concept of Free Food. We encourage our members to fill up on those foods that are naturally lower in energy density (calories per gram) and also highly satisfying while limiting foods that are highest in fat and sugar and are less satisfying, so they lose weight without ever feeling hungry or deprived and without having to weigh, measure or count everything they eat. 

· Our activity support programme, Body Magic helps members to overcome any barriers around activity. Members choose when to start and they set the pace, finding activities they genuinely enjoy, until regular physical activity becomes an intrinsic part of their daily routine. 

At the heart of everything we do lies our passion for treating every member with genuine care, empathy and respect. 

We’re proud to work with the NHS, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), The Royal College of Midwives and others to help shape the future of weight management in the UK and Ireland. 

For more information about Slimming World’s approach visit slimmingworld.co.uk or slimmingworld.ie 

Follow Slimming World on Twitter at twitter.com/slimmingworld or become a Slimming World fan on Facebook at facebook.com/slimmingworld 

For the Press Office visit our newsroom or email public.relations@slimmingworld.co.uk