A Torbay bereavement midwife has been recognised on a national stage after a heartfelt nomination from a mother she helped through the loss of her twin boys.

Fay Martin, a bereavement midwife with Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, was shortlisted for the Elaine Thorp Award for Bereavement Care 2026 at the Sands Baby Loss Awards.

Although Fay did not take home the overall award, she was presented with a finalist certificate at a ceremony at Westminster on September 8.

She was one of only eight midwives and healthcare professionals from across the country shortlisted for the award, which celebrates those providing exceptional care to families affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.

Fay was nominated by bereaved mother Rachael, who wanted to recognise the compassion, kindness and support she received during and after the loss of her twin boys, Robin and Rory.

In her nomination, Rachael described Fay as embodying “everything that compassionate, personalised bereavement care should be”.

She said Fay had gone “above and beyond her role”, supporting her and her family through “the most devastating decisions and moments of our lives with dignity, honesty, and respect”.

Rachael added: “These moments, though deeply painful, are ones I will always cherish, and they were only possible because of her kindness and guidance.”

The nomination described how Fay ensured Robin and Rory were always “spoken about, treated as individuals, and remembered with care”, from the earliest days of fetal medicine through to the termination for medical reasons.

“I truly do not believe I would have been able to get through that period without her,” Rachael said.

For Fay, one of the most moving moments of the Westminster ceremony came when the twins’ names were read aloud as part of her nomination.

She said it was an incredibly poignant tribute which helped ensure Robin and Rory’s memory was honoured and remembered.

And Rachael is far from the only parent to have spoken publicly about the difference Fay has made.

When news of Fay’s shortlisting was shared, messages of support poured in from people who had received her care.

Sam Brown wrote: “Congratulations Fay! I’ll never forget all the support I had from Fay when I lost my little girl. She made one of the worst moments in my life all that more bearable.”

Another woman, Jenny Louise, shared: “I couldn’t have done any of it without this lady.”

Others described Fay as “an amazing midwife”, “unwaveringly kind” and “a beautiful soul”.

It is perhaps this response from families which gives the finalist recognition its greatest meaning.

Bereavement care is not a role where success is necessarily measured in obvious outcomes or easy victories. Sometimes, the lasting impact is simply helping a family through a moment they never imagined they would have to face.

Fay said: “I feel incredibly humbled and overwhelmed to have received this recognition.

“What means the most to me is that, while dealing with the loss of their twins, Rachel took the time to nominate me. Their kindness and generosity in doing that is something I will never forget.

“Building a trusting relationship with families at such a deeply difficult time is a privilege, and it is an honour that I never take for granted.

“To know that the care I provided made a difference when it was needed most is very special. It was a huge honour to be shortlisted and invited to Westminster. I am grateful to the family for their trust and for sharing their experience.”

Around 45 families in Torbay and South Devon experience the loss of a baby before, during or shortly after birth each year.

Bereavement midwives support parents through pregnancy and baby loss, helping them navigate complex decisions and emotions while providing compassionate, personalised care.

Nicola McMinn, Chief Nurse at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud of Fay and this well-deserved national recognition.

“Bereavement midwives provide compassionate, specialist care to families at some of the most heartbreaking and life-changing moments they will ever experience.

“The heartfelt nomination she received is a testament to the profound impact she has had on one family during an unimaginably difficult time, and we are privileged to have professionals like Fay within our Trust.

“We congratulate her on this special achievement.”

At the Westminster ceremony, Helen Wilson, a midwife at The Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, was named the winner of the Elaine Thorp Award.

Fay was presented with her finalist award by Clea Harmer, Sands’ chief executive, and Andy MacNae, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Baby Loss.

For Fay, however, the most meaningful recognition may already have come from the families she has helped – including one mother who, in the middle of her own grief, felt moved to make sure someone knew what Fay had done for her.