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‘DEEPLY HONOURED’: Elsie Gayle acknowledged her friends, family and colleagues while accepting the fellowship

THE UNIVERSITY of Wolverhampton has recognised the “passion and commitment” of an independent West Midlands midwife with a special award.

Born in Jamaica, Elsie Gayle came to England in the 1970s to train as a nurse, then a midwife. Living in the West Midlands since the '90s, she has also worked in Botswana, where her work focused on prevention of mother to baby transmission of HIV and AIDS.

Founder of Midwifery Conversations, she was presented with an Honorary Fellowship last month during the university's graduation ceremonies.

The honour was made at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre ins recognition of Gayle's contribution and passion towards midwifery and her commitment towards the BAME community and women’s rights, focusing particularly in the areas of childbirth and mental health services.

Gayle, who lives in Stourbridge, said:

“I am deeply honoured to receive this high award from the University of Wolverhampton. In accepting this Honorary Fellowship I would like to acknowledge my family, friends, colleagues and clients who continue to support my journey to achieving critical improvements in public health and wellbeing.”

Midwifery Conversations is a holistic non-governmental organisation dedicated to sustainable and 'culturally safe' maternity services. Regularly called upon to speak nationally and internationally, Gayle is patient leader for NHS Midlands and East, and regional lead for maternity, obstetrics, patient safety and patient voice within the Health Watch and Public Involvement Association.

She also belongs to African Caribbean Community Initiative (ACCI). She works to reduce workplace bullying as chair of the Tim Field Memorial Lecture Committee, is a member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s BME research advisory forum, dedicated to improving the regulatory experience of nurses and midwives, and co-chairs the Society of African and Caribbean Midwives in the UK.

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