Midwife at London Ambulance Service awarded for transforming emergency care for mothers and babies

A midwife at London Ambulance Service has been presented with a prestigious award for revolutionising emergency care for pregnant and postpartum women across the UK.

Camella Main was given the prestigious silver Chief Midwifery Officer Award in front of colleagues from other ambulance services across the UK.

The honour recognises Camella’s work in developing the life-saving Pre-Hospital Maternity Decision Tool – a set of guidelines that ambulance crews can refer to while at the patient’s side.

Camella said: “I am honoured and humbled to receive this award. Working with ambulance service colleagues from around the country is a privilege and I am really grateful to the many stakeholders that contributed to the development of this tool.

“We already have evidence it is keeping women and families safer which is the biggest reward of all.”

Ambulance crews can refer to the Pre-hospital Maternity Decision Tool on their work iPads to identify abnormal signs and symptoms, ensuring timely and effective treatment for pregnant women.

Dr Fenella Wrigley, Chief Medical Officer at London Ambulance Service, said: “Camella’s collaborative approach to this innovation has introduced consistency and structured guidance for ambulance crews as they care for pregnant or recently postpartum patients.

“It helps ambulance crews make faster, safer decisions – saving lives, reducing delays and improving communication with hospitals.”

The guidelines are now used nationwide, improving outcomes and standardising care in unpredictable maternity emergencies.

Dr Wrigley added: “Camella led the development of these guidelines and championed their adoption, provided training, collaborated with NHS bodies and dedicated personal time to ensure their success.

“Her dcommitment has helped ambulance crews in the most stressful of situations – and of course that has benefited so many families in London and beyond.”

Camella is part of a team of midwives at London Ambulance Service – one of the few services in the country to have a dedicated maternity team.

They provide support crews through training, developing guidelines and working with maternity units. The training often involves simulation to allow crews to develop their skills in caring for birthing women.

Crews at London Ambulance Service attend around 800 births every year.