Lifetime Achievement Award for Bereavement Midwife

A bereavement midwife from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award just weeks after retiring.

Emotional Send-Off for Karen Stoyles

Karen Stoyles, who spent more than 47 years working in the NHS, received the prestigious accolade at The Mariposa Ball and Awards on Saturday 15th March in London. The awards celebrate the exceptional work of frontline NHS and community staff who support grieving families and provide bereavement care.

Karen, who retired from RCHT at the end of February, said:

“It is a huge honour and great surprise to receive this award. What a wonderful end to my midwifery career.

“It has been such a privilege to care for bereaved parents at the worst time of their lives and to play a part in providing good bereavement care. Thank you to my colleagues who have assisted and supported me over the years and thank you also to those who have nominated me for the award.”

Recognising a Lifetime of Compassion

The Mariposa Awards shine a spotlight on the people working tirelessly behind the scenes in some of the NHS’s most emotionally demanding roles. Karen’s award is a testament to decades of dedication, supporting families during their most heartbreaking moments.

While her career in midwifery has come to an end, Karen’s legacy lives on in the lives she’s touched and the colleagues she’s inspired.

📷Karen at the awards