Published on: 15 April 2020

A doctor from South Tyneside District Hospital who normally spends her days caring for others has praised the first class care she received from midwives after giving birth at the hospital last week.

Dr Ann Sibanda Chaduka and baby.jpeg

Dr Ann Sibanda Chaduka joined the orthopaedic team at South Tyneside District Hospital in August last year after relocating with her husband, Washington, and family from her native Zimbabwe, to progress her career in the NHS. 

Her job usually involves helping to fix broken bones in the operating theatre but she experienced a very different side to NHS life as a patient in the hospital’s maternity unit where she welcomed her baby daughter into the world.

Baby Amanda was born just after 1am on Monday 6th April and is a sister for Corinne, four, and Joshua, two. She was the 151st baby to be born at South Tyneside District Hospital’s midwifery-led birthing centre. 

Dr Sibanda Chaduka had discussed a water birth with her midwife and was able to use the birthing pool. Within 10 minutes of getting into the water, her baby was born.

She said: “The whole experience was amazing and I felt very safe and well cared for. The midwives were simply wonderful and as soon as I got in the water I felt very relaxed. I would like to thank the whole team for the exceptional care I received, especially during such a difficult time for everyone due to COVID-19.”

Amidst the turmoil of the coronavirus pandemic, the news of Baby Amanda’s arrival has brought joy to hospital colleagues in South Tyneside and highlights the vital work of maternity staff right across the NHS who continue to go above and beyond the call of duty to care for pregnant women and their babies during this unprecedented time.

The midwifery-led birthing centre at South Tyneside District Hospital opened in August last year to offer more birth choice to women and has now welcomed more than 160 babies into the world, with fantastic feedback from parents who have used the new facility.

Sheila Ford, Head of Midwifery at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “On behalf of the Trust, I would like to extend our congratulations to Dr Sibanda Chaduka and her family on the birth of their baby daughter. 

“Our maternity staff in both South Tyneside and Sunderland are doing a truly fantastic job in very difficult circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic. We really appreciate everything they are doing to make sure women and their families continue to receive outstanding care.”