A YORK midwife has been recognised as an outstanding health professional after being named runner-up in a national awards scheme.

Jenny Harwood is a special care sister in the community who offers support to parents of children cared for at the city's Special Care Baby Unit.

She was voted runner-up in the nationwide contest run jointly by Tesco Baby & Toddler Club and the Mother & Baby magazine.

Jenny, 44, who has worked in the NHS since she was 16 and is preparing to retire at the beginning of March, makes regular visits to families and runs a premature baby swimming course and monthly get-togethers for premature babies and their families.

She also raises vital funds for the Special Care Baby Unit, which is based at York Hospital.

The nurse was thrilled when she discovered that she had received an award and that she had been nominated by York mum Paula Strider, who described Jenny as "the most supportive, kind, caring, approachable person I have ever met in the healthcare profession."

Jenny said: "It is really nice for a mother to take time out when they are very busy to write a letter like that. It has made my job so much more personal and very fulfilling.

"I want to thank all the families for their support. There are going to be a lot of tears in March when I leave the job."

Paula, 34, of Caxton Avenue, York, who is a staff nurse at York Hospital, had an emergency caesarean after suffering with pre-eclampsia.

Her son, Leo, now aged nine months, was born eight weeks early weighing just 4lbs 3oz.

Paula said: "I had to nominate her because she was brilliant. She treats you as if you are the only person in the world she is looking after, and she doesn't just support you and the baby, it's the whole family.

"My four-year-old daughter Amber is probably closer to her than Leo because she is older."

Jenny is on call 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, providing a lifeline for many families.

She said: "I'm there to support the parents of these tiny babies. The massage and swimming really helps build their confidence in handling their babies and helps the parents to bond with them.

"It's something fun to do with parents who have often been through a terrible ordeal."

Updated: 11:10 Tuesday, January 21, 2003