Offaly woman shortlisted for major consultant award

A Tullamore woman has been shortlisted for National Lactation Consultant of the year 2023.

Patricia Marteinsson (nee McGirl) originally from Charleville Road, started her training in St Vincent's hospital in Dublin 43 years ago, before going to work in the Coombe Women's hospital.

She followed this up with agency work for a while before taking up a position in Beaumont hospital and then the Royal in Donnybrook.

Cupid struck 36 years ago when she met her husband Marteinn in Majorca.''Our eyes met across a crowded room'' said Patricia. Marteinn is Icelandic and together they moved to Iceland where Patricia said all the mother's breast fed their children.

In 2002 the couple returned home for Patricia's mother, who has since passed away.

She is now working for the HSE and doing private consultancy not just in Offaly but to anyone who rings her.

Patricia provides an in-home consultancy breastfeeding support service to women in the Laois Offaly region, seeing 200 women in person in its first year and with over 1,000 contacts by telephone. ''Out stats are above the national average at 48% compared to the national average of 30%,'' she said.

Patricia works with local organisations like Cuidiu, La Leche League Ireland and Friends of Breast Feeding. She also brings crisis counselling skills ( Red Cross) post natal health education and knowledge of child development to her role. Patricia qualified as an International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiner in 2002

''The past year with the HSE has been very transformational,'' said Patricia. ''The ladies nominated me and I am humbled and honoured that they would share their stories which very often are quite traumatic,'' she said.

The winners will be announced at an event next Saturday with President Higgin's wife Sabina presenting the awards.

''Whether I achieve it or not, the big winners are the breastfeeding women of this country,'' said Patricia.