Marian Van Dongen

midwife at QA hospital, passionate supporter of student midwives, mother to 2 practicing adults, wife, lover if all things sport, food and gin

[Sophie Russell @SophieDRussell]

Last week I joined the opening of the buttercup room @LG_NHS a dedicated room for colleagues returning from maternity leave to express milk/ breastfeed. Employment should not be a source of inequity for BF colleagues. A really great initiative as a direct result of staff feedback

[Sands - baby loss charity 💜🧡 @SandsUK]

The Government in England @DHSCgovuk today launched their official Baby Loss Certificate.

It is currently available to people who have experienced any loss before 24 weeks gestation, since 1 September 2018.

Find out more ➡️ https://t.co/JogGFRTIeO

We continue to offer our range of free commemorative 'birth certificates' for anyone who wants one for their baby or babies.

We are here to support anyone affected by #PregnancyLoss or the death of a baby, however recently or longer ago 💙🧡

#BabyLoss #WomensHealthStrategy #PregnancyLossReview

[Inga J Kennedy CBE @ingajkennedy]

What an incredible achievement! So proud of the whole maternity services team.
#MaternityServicesSafetyChampion #ProudtobePHU

[Moz Perkins⚓️🇨🇶🇬🇧 Author 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 @MozPerkins]

On November 7th, 1920, in strictest secrecy, four unidentified British bodies were exhumed from temporary battlefield cemeteries at Ypres, Arras, the Asine and the Somme.

None of the soldiers who did the digging were told why.

The bodies were taken by field ambulance to GHQ at St-Pol-Sur-Ter Noise. Once there, the bodies were draped with the union flag.

Sentries were posted and Brigadier-General Wyatt and a Colonel Gell selected one body at random. The other three were reburied.

A French Honour Guard was selected and stood by the coffin overnight of the chosen soldier overnight.

On the morning of the 8th November, a specially designed coffin made of oak from the grounds of Hampton Court arrived and the Unknown Warrior was placed inside.

On top was placed a crusaders sword and a shield on which was inscribed:

"A British Warrior who fell in the GREAT WAR 1914-1918 for King and Country".

On the 9th of November, the Unknown Warrior was taken by horse-drawn carriage through Guards of Honour and the sound of tolling bells and bugle calls to the quayside.

There, he was saluted by Marechal Foche and loaded onto HMS Vernon bound for Dover. The coffin stood on the deck covered in wreaths, surrounded by the French Honour Guard.

Upon arrival at Dover, the Unknown Warrior was met with a nineteen gun salute - something that was normally only reserved for Field Marshals.

A special train had been arranged and he was then conveyed to Victoria Station, London.

He remained there overnight, and, on the morning of the 11th of November, he was finally taken to Westminster Abbey.

The idea of the unknown warrior was thought of by a Padre called David Railton who had served on the front line during the Great War the union flag he had used as an altar cloth whilst at the front, was the one that had been draped over the coffin.

It was his intention that all of the relatives of the 517,773 combatants whose bodies had not been identified could believe that the Unknown Warrior could very well be their lost husband, father, brother or son...

THIS is the reason we wear poppies.

We do not glorify war.

We remember - with humility - the great and the ultimate sacrifices that were made, not just in this war, but in every war and conflict where our service personnel have fought - to ensure the liberty and freedoms that we now take for granted.

Every year, on the 11th of November, we remember the Unknown Warrior.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.

[Gill Moncrieff @GillMoncrieff]

The REMAIN study is exploring why midwives leave the profession and factors that might encourage them to return. If you no longer practice as a midwife in any context, please consider participating in the survey below: https://t.co/9sekiVC0KX

[Zoë Grace @ZoeGraceRM]

The most beautiful and fluffy visitor, Snowy the Therapy Dog, came to see us today on labour ward. So lovely to boost staff and patient morale on the wards 🐶 @PHU_NHS #NHS #maternity #PHUT #wellbeing #therapy #dog #midwife #happystaff #happyteam

[Gemma New @GemmaNewRM]

Our incredible Maternity Continuity of Carer teams @PHU_NHS
Fantastic leadership @GillAll73781860
Athena 🤍Hera 🤍 Luna 🤍 Juno 🤍
#TeamPHU #ProudToBePHU

[NHS Million @NHSMillion]

If everyone who has ever been grateful for a nurse followed and retweeted we’d reach a million by midnight

[Gill Allen @GillAll73781860]

Fabulous PHUT Maternity Continuity of Carer away day yesterday. I was blown away by the passion, commitment and care provided by all four teams. Thank you to each and every one of you ❤️

[Marian Van Dongen @Marianvd22]

@annie_munks @emilyjonesmed Massive good luck to you all and the wonderful students 🍀I would love to come and visit when you are up and running as we are looking to get this up and running in maternity 😊

[Dr Phil Hammond 💙 @drphilhammond]

The nurses are angry, but wait till you hear how angry the junior doctors and consultants are. Real terms pay since 2010 has plummeted.

[Penny Emerit @PennyEmNHS]

Please support your friends & family to get home for Christmas.
It’s the best place for them once hospital treatment is complete and it helps @PHU_NHS care for our next patients

[Penny Emerit @PennyEmNHS]

🔴Services across Portsmouth & South East Hampshire are under extreme & sustained pressure🔴
Please see below what you can do to help
Thank you to the fantastic teams @PHU_NHS for ongoing efforts, doing everything in our control to keep patients safe in difficult circumstances

[Portsmouth Hospitals University Staff Bank @phtstaffbank]

Are you prepared to care this winter?

We are here to support Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and would really appreciate your support.

See all our current jobs here https://t.co/GsAjaF9rJe

#nhs #staffbank #hiring #hiringnow #winter #support

[Portsmouth Hospitals University NHST @PHU_NHS]

If you are pregnant and want access to help and advice 24/7, download the Healthier Together app and use our new maternity triage service which has launched across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. https://t.co/ZFfOdq5P6H

[Marian Van Dongen @Marianvd22]

@FyfieldGemPHUT @CharHoldwayPHUT @GemmaNewRM @ZoeGraceRM @PHU_NHS Absolutly love seeing our Student Midwives become new PHUT midwives.

[Gemma New @GemmaNewRM]

Some great #FTSU pledges from @FyfieldGemPHUT & @CharHoldwayPHUT #speakupforeveryone #speakupforsafety #speakupforcivility
#proudtobephu @JMichaelNHS

[Gemma New @GemmaNewRM]

@JMichaelNHS @PHU_NHS Welcome to the new @PHU_NHS freedom to speak up advocates 🙂 great to see so many #FTSU pledges #SpeakUpforInclusion