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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Chris Slater

Real-life Call the Midwife: What it's like to work on a Manchester maternity ward at Christmas

Two midwives on one of the city's busiest maternity units say it is a 'brilliant' feeling delivering babies on Christmas Day.

Chloe Meddings and Dorcas Holondo both work on the Delivery Unit at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Manchester. Dorcas will be on shift on Sunday with Chloe having worked on the big day for the last four years.

“A lot of my friends say they can’t believe I’m working over the holiday but once you’re at work, everyone works hard to make the day special for the women and families we are caring for and there’s a really nice atmosphere in the hospital," Chloe said.

READ MORE: 'My Christmas message to a family I don't know - to say thank you for saving my life'

"It’s lovely bringing a baby into the world on Christmas Day." Whilst Dorcas said she is looking forward to the first Christmas babies being born. “I love working at Christmas,” she said.

The pair are both big fans of hit show Call the Midwife which they says gives people a realistic view of their profession.

The pair say don't mind working over the festive period as there is a lovely atmosphere on the delivery unit (Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT))

The BBC drama about a group of midwives working in the late 1950s has been running since 2012 with a special festive episode to air on BBC one at 7:55pm on Christmas Day.

“I always direct people to Call the Midwife,” Chloe said. “Obviously the setting is completely different but I think it gives quite a good portrayal of what the job is about.”

Miranda Hart as Chummy Noakes in Call the Midwife (BBC/Neal Street Productions/Laurence Cendrowicz)

“A lot of the midwives in the show go above and beyond for the women and their families and that’s still relatable today" Dorcas added.

Chloe said her favourite character is Chummy Noakes played by Miranda Hart. "When she was new to the team and a little awkward but really good at her job. I think a lot of midwives would empathise with her" she said.

Dorcas’s favourite is Trixie Franklin, played by Helen Elizabeth George. “She’s a great midwife and always sets out to support those in her care but she also loves to be social and go out and enjoy herself.

"I think in this role it’s so important to have a life outside of work and midwifery.“

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