Midwife receives prestigious award to support improved care for families with additional needs

A Cwm Taf Morgannwg consultant midwife has been awarded a prestigious Iolanthe Award to support work aimed at improving maternity care for women and families with additional support needs during pregnancy.

Rebekah Arthur successfully secured funding through the award programme to help develop a consistent, evidence-based model of care for families experiencing additional social complexities across the Health Board area.

A review undertaken by maternity services identified that around 15% of women accessing maternity care in Cwm Taf Morgannwg experience additional social complexities. In response, the Health Board is piloting the BLOOM Team in Bridgend, a dedicated community midwifery team designed to provide enhanced, personalised care and support to families with additional needs.

The Iolanthe Award funding will provide protected time for Rebekah to develop the clinical pathways and guidelines required to establish and embed the model across the region.

Speaking about the award, Rebekah said:

"Winning this award feels incredibly meaningful, both personally and professionally. I am passionate about this work, having grown up and worked in the Welsh Valleys where the impact of deprivation and social complexity is significant."

"It is a privilege to be in a position to try to improve care and outcomes for women and families in our communities. The award is a powerful encouragement to keep driving meaningful improvements in care."

"My aim is to create a model that improves equity, strengthens relationships between families and their midwives, and leads to better physical, mental and public health outcomes."

The next phase of the project will focus on strengthening collaboration with local authorities and key partners to support the implementation of the BLOOM Team across Cwm Taf Morgannwg.

Suzanne Hardacre, Director of Midwifery at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, said:

"We are incredibly proud of Rebekah and delighted to see her work recognised through this prestigious award. The BLOOM Team is an important initiative that reflects our commitment to providing equitable, compassionate and personalised care for all women and families across our communities."

"This funding will help support the development of a sustainable and evidence-based approach to caring for families with additional needs, ensuring they receive the right support at the right time. Rebekah's passion and dedication to improving outcomes for women and families is inspiring, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this work will have across the region."

The award recognises Rebekah's commitment to improving outcomes for women and families and will help support the development of a sustainable, joined-up approach to maternity care for some of the region's most vulnerable communities.

11/06/2026