Call the Midwife! Volunteer Fiona once delivered Wirral’s babies and now she helps to deliver baked goodies every Friday at the hospice

Where the hospice was founded, just over 40 years ago, was the site of the old Peter Pan and Wendy children’s wards of the old Clatterbridge Hospital.

We’re telling you this because it was also where our baking group, spiritual team and main reception, yes, all of those duties, volunteer, Fiona Caldow, was a cadet nurse.

Fiona, although she would never claim it or probably even realise it, is a popular and very well-respected member of our valuable volunteer army.

Ask anyone to describe her and you will hear,

“Fiona is wonderful, an inspiration, humble, capable, friendly, loyal, professional and welcoming.”

Quite!

On Wednesdays you’ll find her sitting at main reception, making visitors feel at ease, taking a myriad of, and directing, phonecalls, while sorting mail/deliveries out for distribution around the hospice.

Her friendly manner and natural organizational skills means she takes it all in her stride. We know it’s busy, but she makes it all look effortless.

She does however, tell about the time she answered a call and went into her previous professional mode,

“Good morning, labour ward sister…”  Oops, wrong number, haha!

Yes, Fiona was a midwife serving Wirral both in the community and at Arrowe Park.

She’s got some lovely stories;

Like the time she helped a mum give birth at home one December, during a power cut, by the light of the battery Christmas tree lights.

Or, having organized a water birth and on the night it was to happen the ladies boiler broke and they had to ferry hot water in buckets from the in-laws who lived over the road.

One of the best was asking a Mum to have a tape ready for background music as she was undergoing a caesarean section… When Queen’s, I want to break free, came on even the fully anaesthetised lady saw the funny side.

Brilliant!

Fiona also supports our spiritual team. Visiting and sitting with patients on our inpatients ward listening with them, sometimes passing the time of day while also exploring ways that may bring about some peace of mind and referring people to their own faith leaders.

Fiona says,

“Meeting with patients brings great perspectives. I’m often struck how often they’re not focused on their own illness, but on the wellbeing of their loved ones. It is a privilege to listen to our patients in these moments.”

The other area where Fiona adds very much to hospice life is in the Friday morning Wellbeing Centre baking group. Alongside fellow volunteer baking facilitators, Maggie and Sue, the fun never stops.

It is the place to be as the hot delicious cakes come steaming out of the new double oven (let them cool down a bit first and you may also be offered one. Victoria Sponge, lemon drizzle, flapjacks, Eccles cakes, jam rings, scones and more.

Patients love it. Laughing and chatting, putting the world to rights while learning some, often, new skills and getting some cakes to take home. Mouthwatering, who could resist? Not me!

In her home life Fiona is the “proud owner of three amazing children,” Deborah, Michael and Edward, who together with Alex (who signs himself on greetings cards and texts, favourite son-in-law) and daughter’s in law, Claire and Holly, have brought her “four wonderful grandchildren,” Bella, Ava, Elliot and James.

In fact, circumstances dictated that she was on hand to deliver Ava, who always says, “nanny you were the first person to ever see me.” HaHa!

It’s another lovely story which we’re all delighted to hear.

Thank You Fiona. So many people can’t thank you enough!

Do you have a few hours to spare each week to become a Wirral Hospice volunteer? We’d love to hear from you! Please call 0151-334-2778 or email volunteering@wirralhospice.org or visit www.wirralhospice.org/volunteering