Heartbeat March 2020

Year of the Nurse and Midwife
Each month we profile some of our wonderful nurses and midwives as
part of our 2020 Year of the Nurse and Midwife celebrations.
Read on to find out about the career pathway of FGM Specialist Midwife,
Alison Byrne.
She’s the caring midwife who
victims of female genital
mutilation (FGM) receive help
from when they need treatment.
Alison Byrne has been dedicated
to the specialist FGM service
since it was conceived in 2002
to treat and care for pregnant
women within the West
Midlands.
The mum-of-two joined Sandwell and
West Birmingham NHS Trust two years
ago to develop the service further within
the area. Since joining she has led the
opening of a new FGM clinic for nonpregnant
women which will be run by
our organisation. “I have worked within
the FGM field for 18 years and still feel
incredibly passionate about making a
difference for the women who have
undergone
.
the procedure,” said Alison,
when speaking to Heartbeat.
“For the pregnant women, it is mainly
to create a positive birth experience and
for non-pregnant women, it addresses
any physical and psychological issues
they may be enduring. I strive to ensure
Alison Byrne
FGM Specialist Midwife
Alison Byrne - championing the rights of
women and making a stand against FGM
that women that come and see us have
the highest standards of care, and I use
a holistic approach to do this. I think it’s
really important that when we are treating
victims of FGM, we are compassionate
and empathetic towards these women
who have undergone such a horrific and
unnecessary experience.”
Alison runs regular clinics at City Hospital
where women’s needs are assessed and
identified. She then creates a care plan
for them. The new FGM clinic, is based
at Summerfield Primary Care Centre in
Winson Green, and works on a similar basis.
Speaking of the project, she said, “The
launch of the FGM clinic was part of a pilot
within NHS England. It makes it so much
easier for women to access this service in
a community setting through any referral
pathway across the Midlands.”
Alison has been recognised for her work,
winning a Royal College of Midwives award
for the service when it first opened. “My
work has taken me to many meetings and
led to various collaborations with national
organisations which I enjoy immensely.”
It’s no surprise to learn that it’s the
continuation of this work with women and
their families that drives Alison. “Within
these communities that I care for, I have
seen the most inspirational people with an
incredible attitude to life,” she added. “I
admire them greatly and am truly inspired
by every one of them. They are my heroes.”
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