Marie Carroll-Smith has been chosen as Scotland’s top midwife – and now she’s competing to be the UK’s best.

Marie, who works at Wishaw General Hospital, has been honoured as the Emma’s Diary Mums’ Midwife of the Year 2016 for the Scottish region. The award is one of The Royal College of Midwives’ (RCM) Annual Midwifery Awards, recognising the incredible work done by exceptional midwives across the country.

Marie was nominated by local woman Lynn McDowall in tribute to the superb care she received from Marie at the hospital.

Lynn’s baby girl Abby was, heartbreakingly, delivered still born in July last year. Marie showed exceptional care and compassion in helping Lynn make precious memories with her little girl. She supported Lynn, her husband Sean and both their families throughout the sad event and helped them recover with some positive memories.

Lynn said: “This is the side of midwifery that no one speaks about and Marie deserves to be recognised for her incredible care. She was a rock for me and my partner and is a truly amazing midwife.”

Marie has been a midwife for five years, most of that with NHS Lanarkshire. Such is her commitment to the job that she spent her first six months working in Hertfordshire and commuting home to Lanarkshire each week.

She said: “The phone call telling me I had won this award was a complete surprise and it took me a few minutes to process the information. It was very humbling to receive a nomination from Lynn in such sad circumstances.

“I am grateful to know that I was able to help her family through this difficult time and assist them in creating precious memories of baby Abby. I am proud to have been part of the team caring for Lynn and her family.”

Emma’s Diary, a parenting club for expectant and new mums, received a record 671 nominations from women across the UK. All entries were put through a rigorous judging process by a panel of representatives from both the RCM and Emma’s Diary, culminating in seven regional winners.

The RCM’s Annual Awards will be hosted by news and TV presenter and mother-of-two, Kate Silverton, on 8 March. Marie will join the other regional winners at the London awards ceremony, where she will collect her regional trophy and find out who will be crowned the coveted overall national winner.