NHS Heroes - friendship and camaraderie

Friendship and camaraderie are a huge part of working in the NHS.

So it’s no surprise that the Beatles classic ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ has been chosen as the official song to mark the NHS’ 70th birthday next month.

Midwives Cheryl and Sarah know a thing or two about friendship.

They met on their first day at primary school in 1988.

Little did they know that 24 years later they would both qualify as midwives and still be the best of friends.

Throughout primary school they were inseparable and went onto the same senior school.

After school, Sarah trained and qualified to be a nurse, while Cheryl steadily worked her way up in a high street bank.

Unbeknown to each other at the time, they even got engaged on the same day.

It wasn’t until Cheryl’s daughter was born that she decided it was time to follow in her mum’s footsteps and become a midwife. 

Meanwhile, Sarah had been a nurse on the cardiothoracic ward for five years and despite loving her job she also decided now was the time to pursue her dream to become a midwife, she joined Cheryl in the second year of university.

They became colleagues as well as best friends when they both graduated in 2012.

Sarah has maintained her nursing registration and continues to work as part of the nursing bank.

They have delivered each other’s babies and now work together to deliver other people’s babies.

Sarah said: “Cheryl is a very special person and is a compassionate midwife. When I lost my own babies she held my hand, and she calmed my nerves when I had my rainbow baby.   Being a midwife is a special job that I feel very passionate about but we had two very good role models – both my mum and Cheryl’s mum both worked in the NHS – we like to think that we make them both proud.”

Cheryl said: “I have never regretted the decision to change career to become a midwife and I have been lucky to have my best friend by my side.  Bringing a life into the world never fails to amaze me and I am proud of what Sarah and I have achieved.   Being a midwife is hard at times, but that’s why we all need a little help from our friends.”