A MIDWIFE has received a coveted national award for her work – almost 20 years after her death.

Joyce Cook worked at Bradford Royal Infirmary for nearly three decades, as a sister in A&E before becoming a midwife.

She died, aged 51, from cancer in 1999.

Now her work has been recognised after daughter Rosie Preston-Cook, from Haworth, wrote a tribute blog.

It was spotted by organisers of the Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care, who decided to present a posthumous accolade in a special category – celebrating the 70th birthday of the NHS – honouring individuals for outstanding contributions in one or more of the past seven decades.

Rosie and her father, Roy Cook, collected the award at a ceremony in Manchester.

“My mother was hugely passionate about the NHS and totally loved her job – both as a nurse and later a midwife,” said Rosie, who writes a blog busymumlifestyle.co.uk.

“We are so proud of her and the work that she did. For it to be recognised after her death just means the world to me, my dad and my two brothers.

“She would have been thrilled with this award, although would probably have said what she did is what many nurses and midwives do as a matter of course.”