A paediatric consultant from University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) has received a police commendation in recognition for his contribution to partnership working and services to children.
Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician Martin Samuels is stepping down from his designated doctor for child death role after working for UHNM for over 30 years.
He moved to North Staffordshire after the establishment of the academic department of paediatrics in 1992.
Since 2008 when a statutory process for Child Death Reviews was introduced, Martin was the Designated Doctor for Child Deaths for the Stoke-on-Trent Safeguarding Children Board, looking after the investigation of infant and childhood deaths, as well as providing the support for families.
Included in this was the running of the Care of Next Infant programme, a national initiative by cot death charity Lullaby Trust.
Staffordshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Becky Riggs, who presented the commendation, said: “On behalf of Staffordshire Police and our child death partners, I would like to reflect on the hard work, determination and commitment that Dr Martin Samuels has provided to children and families in Staffordshire.
“On behalf of the children and families of North Staffordshire we would all like to thank Martin for all that he has contributed throughout the years to the child death overview process.
“I would like to personally thank Martin for his hard work and present him with the commendation for outstanding contribution to partnership working and services to children.”
Martin, who is taking partial retirement but will also focus on the sleep and ventilation service at UHNM and Great Ormond Street, said: “It’s been a long journey and absolutely superb to work as part of the child death process. It can be very traumatic and difficult, but I have worked with a great team of people through the years.
“Everyone has been so great to work with and I feel it’s worked well in Staffordshire – we have a good system working here. I am very proud to have worked with everyone.”
Caroline Meredith, Divisional Operations Director at UHNM, said: “The work that Martin has done over the years has been heroic for our children, our patients, the services that have been developed has been really amazing which is down to Martin’s expertise and experience.
“On behalf of the Trust I would like to say thank you and we wish Martin a very happy (partial) retirement.”
