My partner gave birth at Homerton, and I’m writing belatedly to shower praise on the staff who looked after us, in particular Sister Modupe. We were registered to give birth elsewhere but were sent home at 1 am and told to return 24 hours later, even though my partner’s waters had broken, and she was evidently in active labour.

I drove my partner home as contractions sped up and grew in intensity, and by 5:30 am (just over 4 hours after leaving the hospital), it became obvious the baby was coming very soon. I rang them, who told me that we could come in, “but might be sent home again” because this was my partner’s first child, and labour usually lasts a long time. Our next call, ten minutes later, was met with, “You’d better call 999.”

The emergency operator advised us that no ambulances were available for at least an hour. So, we took a black taxi and arrived at Homerton at 6 am with the baby already almost breaching. I could feel his head about to emerge.

The maternity staff, led with aplomb by Sister T, took charge immediately we arrived, my partner screaming in pain as she was helped from the taxi. We were rushed to a delivery room, and Baby O was born at 6:21 with the expert guidance of Modupe. Their calm, warm, and precise leadership of the team ensured that everything went as smoothly as it could. The focused and capable care we received at Homerton Hospital was an immense relief.

We would like to send a special thanks, therefore, to Sister Modupe and the midwife team at Homerton for their fine work.