April 1, 2025 • 53 mins
Lorraine Evans is the kind of midwife who turns every experience into a story worth telling. With a larger-than-life personality and a passion for adventure, Lorraine has built a career that’s taken her from the bustling streets of London to some of the most remote communities in Australia. As a travel midwife, she’s delivered babies in outback hospitals, managed high-risk births via telehealth, and tackled emergencies as the sole midwife on call - all with her signature humour and warmth.
Before healthcare, Lorraine’s career path was as varied as her travels, but nothing fulfilled her quite like midwifery. Lorraine shares the realities of agency nursing, from intense clinical moments to the deep connections she forms with patients and communities. Despite the unpredictability of locum life, she thrives on the freedom, flexibility, and unique experiences it brings.
A wine judge in her spare time, Lorraine brings her expertise to the podcast studio, sharing a glass with our hosts - who, unsurprisingly, end up breaking one in the process! Tune in to hear Lorraine’s take on agency midwifery, her love for connecting with communities, and why she wouldn’t have it any other way.
It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber.
We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso
More about Lorraine's Organisation of Choice, the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation
We are a non-profit, charitable organisation who raises funds in order to directly support the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service and the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, which care for nearly 285,000 people from Tully to the Torres Strait.
Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sam Miklos (00:00):
Welcome to it Takes Heart.
I'm Kate and I'm Sam, and wecan't wait to share more
incredible stories of healthcareprofessionals making an impact
across Australia.
Lorraine Evans (00:08):
One of my best jobs in my life before midwifery
had been running the hostel forthe homeless women and I think
I liked that because it was sortof on a really personal level
with the women.
First time I'd actuallyscrubbed in.
I was like, oh.
And then the next thing I knewI had my hands inside a woman's
(00:33):
abdomen and they were sayingjust pull apart.
It's better to be torn ratherthan cut Rock back, rock back
and pull.
Four weeks ago I was unblockingthe photocopier.
Kate Coomber (00:40):
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the
land of which we meet who, forcenturies, have shared ancient
methods of healing and cared fortheir communities.
We pay our respects to elders,past and present.
Sam Miklos (00:56):
The midwife that we're chatting with today has
had an incredible life.
Born into an Air Force familyin Singapore, lorraine Evans has
travelled the world andcertainly had an eclectic career
, which included managing ahostel for homeless women, media
sales in London, teachingEnglish in Thailand, then PA
work in the UK before studyingmidwifery.
In 2012, she landed inAustralia with her midwifery
(01:18):
degree and a goal to see as muchof this country's vast
landscapes as she could.
There's never a dull moment inLorraine's life.
She's even a wine judge in herspare time, and she arrived
today carrying a backpack fullof wine which we loved, although
I don't know if it's been givento us, but let's see.
Kate Coomber (01:35):
We can wait and see Strategically sitting in
your office.
I know right, I'll pop it inthere.
Sam Miklos (01:39):
The team at Cornerstone say Lorraine is kind
, caring and just so incrediblyfun and we are so proud to have
her as part of our Cornerstonecommunity.
So welcome Lorraine to.
It Takes Heart, thank you.
Kate Coomber (01:50):
And thank you for coming in again.
I think, truth telling, this isthe second time that we've
recorded an episode with you,because the first time was a few
months ago when we met you.
But we met you via Zoom and wehad a few technical issues that
day and we thought we know thatlorraine is just life and soul
and we wanted to see you inperson but we also didn't have a
(02:12):
studio, we didn't have a studio.
We were in sort of uh in anoff-site and it just still that
day just kind of was it wentfrom bad to worse, it was really
difficult.
We learned a lot that day, soit's so nice.
Thank you for swinging by onyour way, I believe, up to the
Sunshine Coast.
That's right On a bit of aholiday with your friend.
Sam Miklos (02:28):
Yes, so before we kick off, then, wine judging.
I think we need to.
I think the benefit of being inperson is that we can set the
tone for today a little bitdifferently to on Zoom.
Now tell me first of all, howdo you become a wine judge?
Lorraine Evans (02:43):
well, I, I'm a wine judge, um, you know, by
default, because in cairns theyhave, they have a wine show and
I started as a steward, which isthe person in the back who just
pours the wine, but you don'tget paid for it, it's voluntary
work.
So they allow you to sit in ona on on some judging and you,
you know, if they're judging 70Shiraz's, you might get 30 and
(03:07):
you have your.
You know your score sheet andyou do your thing and then you
sit down with the judges this iswhen you're still a steward, if
you'd like to and then youcompare scores, and this, every
time I would, I was always yes,me, me.
I want to do that for as manytimes as I could during the week
, appreciate and um you have tosign a waiver to spit.
(03:28):
But, as, as nurses will know anddoctors, whatever that alcohol
is absorbed through the, throughyour mouth, um, you know, that
is the fastest way into thebloodstream.
Well, there's also thealternative, but usually, like
for a baby that's got a lowblood sugar, for example, we
don't give it to drink the sugar, we actually rub it into the
gums.
Yeah, so a lot of alcohol isactually you can't drive to a
(03:51):
wine, a wine judging, becauseyou know, even though you do
spit out the amount that you'vepotentially taken, quite a lot
of the alcohol has been absorbed.
But, um, I started off notgreat, but then, as you know, I
was doing this.
I think it's been like 11 yearsnow and I've been a judge,
maybe the last five and it justbecame to the point where I was
(04:11):
able to fight my corner.
I did a wine course.
I met up with the other winejudges that were local to Cairns
for these wine evenings whereyou know it's disguised and you
pour yours and you havequestions, and therefore I just
got further and further into thewine.
But when the judges are allintroduced to them, you know to
each other, at the start of eachwine show.
(04:32):
They always say you know, thisis blah-de-blah, and they've
been working for Brook Brothersfor this many years.
And here's the winemaker fromSouth Australia.
And and then they get to me andthey say and here's Lorraine
the midwife, and she drinks alot of wine.
Sam Miklos (04:48):
I think that's a great intro.
I think so Well, kate and I.
This is Kate, and she drinks alot of wine too.
And we thought, as do I, herfriend.
We were like well, we wouldlove to give you our favourite
rosé and get you to judge ourrosé before we get started.
So I'm going to get Kate topour and then also we can enjoy
that podcast.
(05:09):
There was a.
Kate Coomber (05:11):
Maybe we might take two on that, kate's not
used to pouring.
Sam Miklos (05:14):
She's used to it.
What did you do?
And she smashed her whole glass.
So we're going to get you to dothe next one.
Lorraine Evans (05:23):
We'll have to have one of them in a.
I'll have a glass.
Kate Coomber (05:27):
Do we just cut?
No, we can just go.
It's real.
Sam Miklos (05:32):
I don't mind.
I'm from Toowoomba, so I'mhappy to have mine, thank you.
This is yours.
When I grew up, we had it in abag, strapped to the clothesline
.
Lorraine Evans (05:41):
I heard there was that Goon of Fortune.
That's what I've come.
That Goon of Fortune, yes,that's what I've come from.
Kate Coomber (05:45):
Goon of Fortune, strap it up to the clothesline
spin it around the backyard whenit stops instead of spin the
bottle.
Sam Miklos (05:50):
So tell us a little about this rosé.
Lorraine Evans (05:52):
Oh goodness, you put me absolutely on the spot
so well.
One of the first things thatyou know, as are we, we just
smashed it off.
It's the first one of the day.
I would steal your questionsfor a second.
You need pure white behindbecause you're going to look at
the colour first.
Right, and obviously this is,you know, being a rosé.
(06:13):
It is in between the two, so Iwould imagine this one has only
been lightly left in contactwith the skins, but who knows?
Right and then we'll go forwhether or not we've got
something decent on the nose.
And is that decent on your nose?
It certainly is.
Um, you know, and your nose cansmell more than your tongue can
(06:34):
taste.
So there should be quite a lotgoing on here, and then we get
the little tiny bit into yourmouth.
Sam Miklos (06:50):
So you kept that in your mouth.
Yeah, I could have had threeglasses in that time.
Lorraine Evans (06:58):
But what you're doing is you're actually letting
it go underneath your tongueand then you're breathing in to
allow air to go over it so thatyou can actually taste the
flavours, and then you'll noticethat there's more than one
layer to the wine.
If it's a good wine, it shouldtaste different, as you.
Sam Miklos (07:10):
I can't get myself to breathe and taste.
Lorraine Evans (07:12):
Yes, this is why a lot of people make a strange
noise when they do that.
But you know it's not thatimportant, but you do need to
keep it in your mouth and let it.
So it's like a journey from thestart, the first taste, until
you actually swallow, and thenthere should still be some
flavors and that's sort of thelength of the wine as to whether
or not the wine has lots ofcharacter, lots going on.
(07:33):
I appreciate that a little bitmore now I know.
Kate Coomber (07:36):
Thank you for the little tips.
Lorraine Evans (07:37):
But it doesn't mean that you have to have
fabulous wine.
The sign of a good wine is thatyou've opened the bottle and
then you look around and it'sgone.
Kate Coomber (07:44):
True wine, the sign of a good wine is that
you've opened the bottle andthen you look around and it's
gone.
Lorraine Evans (07:47):
Um, true, someone smashed a glass, but
that that everyone's enjoying it, that you know.
No, it just it hasn't got to bean award-winning wine to be a
good wine to have with yourfriends or with a meal, and
sometimes those wines are sointense yeah that you wouldn't
want more than one glass, andthat's why they sell those fancy
smancy.
You know aerating gas, that?
will mean that you can keepthose bottles of wine because
(08:09):
actually it's too much.
You know, it's like anincredibly such an experience.
You wouldn't want to drink thebottle.
So there's wine for differentoccasions and this is delicious.
Sam Miklos (08:17):
This is wine for a podcast?
Yes, well cheers to that andenjoy that while you're here we
can absolutely get a top up ifwe need as well, now that Kate's
poured that.
Kate Coomber (08:28):
Our tech team will just be going nuts that we've
got so much liquid near.
Lorraine Evans (08:32):
All the equipment, yes, near all the
equipment.
Sam Miklos (08:35):
And Korea.
Kate Coomber (08:36):
Let's talk about Korea.
I'm a cheat.
Sam Miklos (08:41):
This will be the first time where we've ever had
to cut an episode because we putwine into it.
And now we're just likehopefully we won't have to do
tastery.
Kate Coomber (08:50):
What's she?
Sam Miklos (08:51):
had about with Lorraine, not sure, but god, it
was fun.
Kate Coomber (08:53):
I feel like I know more things, so going to your
career wine judging, which isonly a hobby that is not a
career point.
Lorraine Evans (09:05):
I am like the lowest of the low in this
scenario and I'm not a topmanager, I think it's a
wonderful hobby.
Sam Miklos (09:11):
Yeah, I think I need a hobby like that, Just a hobby
in general but anyway.
Good hobbies, but I thinkyou're saying the careers that
we talked about.
There's so many differentavenues.
You've worked.
Lorraine Evans (09:21):
Yeah, how did you come to midwifery?
Why did you choose well,midwifery, well, midwifery.
Um, I realized, because I wasborn, and you know, I was born
in singapore.
My parents were stationed inmalaysia and we always moved
every three years.
It was constant of of moving,even if we went back to berlin,
for example, for three tours, um, we were always moving.
(09:42):
We're always making sort of newfriends and learning, and you
could never get bored becausethere was always something.
Nothing just went on.
You never assume you've got allthe time in the world to do
something, because you won't behere next year, you'll be
somewhere else.
You just got to keep moving.
And then, of course, my parentsretired and I was sort of, and
I managed to pick a universitycourse that came with a year
(10:04):
abroad.
And I was sort of, and Imanaged to pick a university
course that came with a yearabroad and that was that
actually was part of my choosingof American studies was a year
in America.
How fabulous.
I must do that Americanliterature Never been more
interested and then.
So I often don't make mydecisions based on the most
logical of reasons.
And I've been, you know,traveling there.
(10:24):
I I encouraged a partner in thepast to take a job in Hong Kong
because I thought that would beinteresting.
He had never lived abroad inhis life but he we went there.
That didn't work out but Istill, I realized, wasn't keen
to just stay in the UK and Istarted to think well, what jobs
would I be able to do thatwould enable the travel and
(10:46):
relocation from London, becauseLondon is fabulous, as I imagine
Sydney is if you're wealthy,and pretty awful if you're on a
low wage.
And one of my best jobs in mylife before midwifery had been
running the hostel for thehomeless women.
And I think I liked that becauseit was sort of on a really
(11:08):
personal level with the women,getting to know them, getting to
understand, getting to helpthem to get themselves back on
their feet, get their benefitssorted out, get them new
accommodation.
After the hostel there was alimited time that they could
stay there, so setting them upto go on.
And I just realized that when Ihad done that job before
midwifery for the longest of allmy jobs.
(11:29):
And then I tried all thesedifferent things and I was in
property and being a PA in aninternational property company,
and then I was flying businessclass to Chicago in my suit and
heels and my briefcase and doingall of those things.
But I never enjoyed it as muchas I did when I was working with
the women in the hostel.
(11:50):
And so when I thought, right,what jobs can I do?
That will take me out of the UKand America was actually on my
list and thank goodness we'vedodged that bullet it just goes
from bad to worse there.
But also that you know, and ofcourse, health care was on the
list and then, the more I lookedinto it, midwifery, of course,
(12:10):
was back with working with womenand also you know, just that
whole sort of miracle of lifethat it's a real privilege.
Well, I think in nursing a lotof people who've got their
calling I have a friend whoworks in palliative care back in
the UK and I could not do that,but she is fabulous at that.
But there's like a place thatyou're drawn to, I think, in
(12:31):
healthcare, and for me, the ideain midwifery is that you
actually have healthy women onthe whole doing a normal and
natural process, and it'sactually almost the reverse of
healthcare.
You're trying to limit theinterference of healthcare, to
give them the most positive,normal experience that they can
have, unless they do have healthissues or anything that needs
(12:54):
specific attention.
And then it's your job as amidwife to ensure that they're
safe and that that's happeningtoo.
So I decided to do themidwifery course and come away
and Australia was looking formidwives and I thought, well,
this is fantastic, I can getback to my palm trees, my, my um
, fun, sort of more relaxedlifestyle.
And, yeah I, I sort of bit thebullet and came over to
(13:17):
Australia not long after I hadgraduated so, yeah, that's an
interesting piece.
Sam Miklos (13:21):
like to graduate and then come out to Australia.
Was it hard to get your ARPAregistration Not at all To come
for a job, or was it gettingwork the?
Lorraine Evans (13:29):
English system of training midwives even I'm a
direct entry midwife, not alsonurse trained at that point was
of such a high level.
You'll have delivered many morebabies than you're required 40
or 60.
I can't even remember it was solong now, but I think that
you're exposed to the real worldof midwifery as a student in
(13:52):
London.
You really are.
I caught my first baby on myfirst day in the hospital with
another midwife.
Kate Coomber (14:01):
I did not expect that.
Lorraine Evans (14:03):
I remember being in theatres two or three weeks
later, first time I'd actuallyscrubbed in.
Yes, I was like, oh.
And then the next thing I knew,I had my hands inside a woman's
abdomen and they were sayingjust pull apart, it's better to
be torn rather than cut Rockback, rock back and pull.
And I was thinking, good Lord,four weeks ago I was unblocking
(14:25):
the photocopier.
Sam Miklos (14:26):
Oh, my God.
Lorraine Evans (14:27):
And now I sort of have my hands inside this
lady and I'm pulling her abdomenapart.
My God, here in Australiaactually, when you attend a
cesarean birth, the Australianmidwives are not quite so
hands-on.
Yeah.
Sam Miklos (14:40):
I was just thinking about my cesarean birth no the
midwives are not involved.
No one was there.
It was just the doctor.
No one was there.
Lorraine Evans (14:45):
There you go, the midwives in England are
really into that.
A lot of them are trained inpassing the instruments to the
doctor.
You're often asked to hold acertain one to help them and,
yes, you're fully scrubbing,whereas here you'd put a pair of
gloves and a gown and you'reall set and just take the baby.
But yeah, I just was takenaback and astounded by how
quickly and I did actually workfor almost a year in London as a
(15:10):
qualified midwife.
So when I started in Cairns Iwasn't a actual grad, I was a
fully fledged midwife at thatpoint, because I think it had by
the time I was like five, sixdays short of the full grad year
when I left and because I wassponsored, in fact, by the
private hospital.
Initially I had moved from thepublic sector to the private
(15:32):
sector, which was the samehospital, just had a different
wing.
This was in Cairns.
Sam Miklos (15:37):
No, this was in London, in London, chelsea and
Westminster.
I used to play some alliedhealth staff in Chelsea and
Westminster when I was workingin London.
That's a hustly bustly place toget your training.
Lorraine Evans (15:48):
So I had experienced both being the
autonomous midwife in London,where the doctors are not your
boss.
In fact, you look after thewomen and make your decisions,
and if you think you need someassistance, you call a doctor,
and if you don't like what thedoctor's saying, you can call
his or her boss and get a secondopinion.
(16:11):
And only if you're sort ofganged up by many would you be
having to do what they'resuggesting.
If you were hoping to have an,you know, this woman was hoping
to have a natural birth.
But, um, in the private, in theprivate sector in london, you
learned that the consultant wasthe boss and whatever they said
was what was going to happen.
And that was very good trainingfor me before going to the
private and even Australianmidwifery, because you are, you
(16:35):
know, the doctors, the seniors,have the power to say what
happens in these situations.
So that was a learning curvefor me.
That midwifery is slightlydifferent in australia.
Kate Coomber (16:45):
But the midwife not being able to examine me?
Uh, because it had to be thedoctor for in in my situation.
Lorraine Evans (16:53):
Yes, it's, yeah, it's, it's, it's different and
you have to learn, you know to,to adapt, and there's different
things here that you aren'texpected to do in the uk, but
then you know and the, but youwould be really high skilled at
it.
And then there's things herethat you aren't expected to do
in the UK, but then you know,but you would be really high
skilled at it.
And then there's things herethat you are expected to do and
we're like what Hang on?
This isn't.
Please don't ask me to give anexample, but I know that there
is.
Sam Miklos (17:13):
There have been those moments along the way.
Yeah, did you come to a job ordid you?
Lorraine Evans (17:17):
Yes, I was sponsored and I came on out and,
yes, just, and I reallyembraced the far north
Queensland sort of.
I suddenly took up sailing forthe first time.
I love the fact that I could bein the swimming pool, you know,
an hour before my shift,whether that was under the stars
or under the sun.
You know, looking up throughthe palm fronds before I drove
(17:40):
my six minutes to work andparked for free, compared to the
London allow two hours.
You know planes, trains,automobiles journey of hell in
the freezing cold only to yeah,it's yeah, fairy godmother waved
a wand in terms of myAustralian.
Kate Coomber (17:57):
You know immigration so how long did you
work I guess permanently in thatrole was.
Lorraine Evans (18:03):
I would say nearly seven years in the
private and, for various reasons, it was time for me to go, and
that's when the fantasticopportunity arose that I
realized I could either go overto the public or I could take
advantage of what was lookinglike being quite a fixed
position.
Much as I really love Cairnsand I have an apartment and I
have friends and I belong todifferent social groups and two
(18:26):
gyms, and not that you'd thinkso Two gyms, two gyms there's
always going to be something Iwant to do.
Sam Miklos (18:31):
I was struggling to get to the one that I joined.
Lorraine Evans (18:34):
And I realised that through doing agency work
that I would have this sort offreedom of being able to see
Australia, and not because Iwasn't seeing that much of
Australia when on the full timework and I was also going to
have more challenges than justfollowing on.
And then, you know, seeing 20years on my retirement, still
(18:55):
the same sort of set of people,the same situations, the same
repeating.
Which is what was driving memad in London in the PA job was,
oh my goodness, am I gettingthis guy's you know kid's ski
insurance again?
Oh, are we renewing his car youknow his car registration again
?
The years were ticking by bythese repetitive events and I
just have loved that through theagency I've gone from Tasmania
(19:18):
to Thursday Island, to SouthAustralia, to Western Australia,
to South Queensland and soforth and all sort of paid for
by agency work and still beenable to maintain my home in
Cairns.
While having these experiencesand almost every contract that
I've done, I've met someonethat's remained in my life as a
(19:39):
friend, someone who, whetherit's a doctor, whether it's
another midwife, it's just beena really good way to meet people
and sort of have a or anotheragency midwife who isn't even
from where I'm working, but justis, you know, in the same
situation I think when you'returning up with a backpack of
wine, I feel like I'd be afraidto.
Sam Miklos (20:00):
My friend is expecting that wine in the sunny
days I know, so do you then goback to Cairns and do some work
there, or do you have a?
Break in between contracts.
Lorraine Evans (20:10):
I'm casual and I love this sort of freedom of
having like this sort of idea ofI know when I'll say I'll do a
contract and that's allocated,and there's usually enough work
that if I say, can I work now?
There's, you know, my agentBecky will find something for me
around then and I also, whenI'm back in Cairns, decide, you
(20:30):
know, put myself forward as acasual and I predominantly work
in the special care there andthen I I also, you know.
So I have this freedom.
And what I have loved is I'mstill such a big traveler and
I've been to the US lastSeptember, October, for a
friend's daughter's engagementparty, Then I went back for the
wedding in Texas in May and I'mjust currently booking a trip
(20:55):
that involves air miles to getme to Milan and then I go all
the way through Italy and anAmerican friend's meeting me
there, and then I'm meeting aBritish friend in Genoa and then
we're going all the way throughthe south of France until I
meet up with my family, mysister, my niece, my mother in
the south of France and then cutround in another loop to get
(21:15):
back to Italy again beforecoming back.
And the joy of working forcontracts and being casual is
that I don't have to put in aperformer and ask for time off.
I don't have to wait and see ifI'm allowed.
Well, that bargain airfare issitting there only for this
weekend only, and you know ifyou have to go through HR that
you're not gonna be able to getthat approved for 10 days
minimum.
That bargain flight, that airmiles offer is mine and I can
(21:40):
make that decision and just gofor it and that's what I've
really loved, and a lot ofsometimes when there's not a lot
of casual work.
You know where I live, Peopleare like you need to get a
full-time job, You'll feel much,and I'm like, no, I don't.
I don't want thatresponsibility again of having
and then being tied to one place.
There will always be work.
Kate Coomber (21:59):
Absolutely yes, yeah.
Sam Miklos (22:01):
There'd be loads of challenges.
I'm sure as well.
Like you've spoken a lot aboutwhat you love, about that
contract work, but work.
But you know we see so manythings where people don't love a
community they've gone to orthe team they're with maybe
isn't a great match, or you knowjust the lack of resources,
staff shortages, um staying instaff quarters yeah, some of
them are give us the warts andall.
(22:23):
Sometimes, yeah, yeah, like Ithink it's good for people,
because people ask thosequestions like what is it
actually like?
And I think it's really good tohave an insight into what's bad
, because you can be wellprepared.
Sometimes it's actually notthat bad.
Kate Coomber (22:34):
Or I've heard about that.
I think it depends on thepersonality.
I think it's not for everyone.
It's probably fair to say yes.
Lorraine Evans (22:39):
I think that one of the things is I have had
some fabulous accommodation andI have also had some.
The best is when it's so bad,when it's so bad that you have
you know you can complainwithout looking like a princess,
yeah and um, that happened on arecent contract to the and I
was, um, you know, I I turned up, it was quite late and I got to
(23:00):
the place and honestly itlooked I honestly it would look
like something from a movie setof a crack den oh wow, like
tarantino movie it was so badand so repellent.
I mean I've, I've actuallyshowed people photos where
people have actually said Ican't look anymore, I can't look
at that at all.
And so I phoned back to thehospital and there's always
(23:20):
somebody responsible and saidlook, I'm sorry, but I really
can't stay.
And they're like is it bad?
I'm like, yes, very bad.
And they said get a taxi back.
We've got backup for this.
We'll sort you out for tonight.
I can't say that's where you'regoing to be for the whole
contract, but we've gotsomething for tonight.
That isn't no.
And I showed the particular,you know nurse manager the
photos and her language waschoice two.
Kate Coomber (23:42):
She was like no way In agreement or disagree.
Oh, absolutely, Okay, that'sgood.
Lorraine Evans (23:46):
And then the manager of the unit that I met
the next day and was like I needto sorry, I am coming in, I
just need to do this, this andthis.
I've got to go into the postoffice.
Some of the requirements arethat you get working with
children in certain states, butyou can't apply until you get
there.
There's a lot of challenges andyou just have to sort of follow
through with how all thosethings work.
But I said I don't know whereI'm going to go, but I'm
(24:08):
certainly not staying in theplace.
And I showed her the photos andand she was so distressed that
she insisted I forward them toher and then sent them, I think,
to all the senior people in inthe hospital, saying this is why
we can't get agency to stay.
Um, this is, we have to dobetter than this and this room
needs to.
Sam Miklos (24:24):
You know, the mattress, the anything in this
room needs to be burnt that'sgood though that they understood
and respect the role of theagency nurse, because, it's true
, it's all those little thingsthat make you go.
I'm not going back there.
Lorraine Evans (24:35):
Yeah, and I have predominantly, really, either
I've been very lucky or that Ihave had good experiences on the
whole.
Sometimes, yes, it can get tothe point where you think this
isn't actually, there's notenough of us here.
There's a sudden sickness andthen somebody else doesn't turn
up for an you know becauseagency.
You know they're expectingpeople and then I don't know,
(24:57):
maybe they had another offer orsomething or changed their mind,
and then everyone's counting onsomeone turning up and you know
it can get crazy, which on theone hand, can be fabulous
because you end up with overtimeand who doesn't love a bit of
overtime and the bank balancebut also a little bit
overwhelming when you'resuddenly expected to do shift
after shift after shift withouta break, as you say, in these
(25:19):
areas where you know sometimesyou're waiting on the you know
RFDS to come help and there'sonly, you know, so many planes
and there's many more jobs andyou're on a wait list and you're
just trying to maintain asituation where you wait for
your information that the planesat the airport and then you get
to do the sort of fun ride inthe ambulance with the ambos and
(25:41):
the blue light to the airportand do the handover on the
tarmac, sometimes in the drivingrain, and you sort of you know
it has almost a sort of you knowa quality of yes, I'm very glad
that I left the UK and I'm notstill trudging two hours to a
job and repeat, repeat, repeat,repeat, repeat of the day before
.
Sam Miklos (26:01):
No day would ever be the same Because you have to
live it.
Was there a?
Lorraine Evans (26:05):
security guard helping one of the birds.
No, it was just that.
It was just.
Actually, I was quitedistressed that there wasn't
enough backup.
I was quite distressed thatthere wasn't enough backup and I
actually made a quiteinappropriate joke that the only
backup was that one of thesecurity guards once saw an
episode of One Born Every Minute, and that was up in history.
Kate Coomber (26:18):
I mean the whole area that you practice in.
You know having babies isunpredictable.
Absolutely so if you're in amore rural area.
I know that they have things inplace to to move women to maybe
a larger hospital if it is acomplex pregnancy or things like
that.
But things happen, yeah, theydo.
They do Routine pregnancy andthey happen at once.
(26:40):
They happen at once.
Lorraine Evans (26:41):
You know the worst is the lull.
Once you've had, in remoteareas, sort of seven plus days
with no deliveries and no drama,you know it's coming and it's
coming at once every it's allgoing to happen.
Bang, bang, bang.
It's going to be people tryingto deliver in the corridor
because all the births, you knowyour two or three birth suites
are full and there's.
(27:02):
You know this is it.
It happens like that, which Iquite like, that rush, and I
also then quite like thoseperiods of quiet where you can
sort of get to know the otherpeople that you're working with.
And you know that's when allthe checks are done and
everything's sorted for, readyfor the.
You know you're almostpreparing for that that tsunami
of women through the door whichwill happen.
Sam Miklos (27:23):
I guess I was just gonna say I feel like last time
we talked about this, that onebirth that's really affected you
, or the one that's been, youknow, a particularly challenging
one that's gone okay in the end.
Is there any of those?
Lorraine Evans (27:38):
I think I don't know, even because there's been
several, I think, being in avery, very remote area once and
having a late and being on nightshift as the only midwife in
the hospital, and suddenly, youknow, someone has been admitted
through ED and it's such a smallhospital that they haven't
phoned to tell me.
She's just appeared from EDthrough the doors into my
(27:59):
section and I can tell the way,the way she's walking, that
she's in labor, she's withanother lady and I'm thinking,
well, at least she looks quitelarge.
So because I have a list of whowe're expecting, I know she's
not one of them because I've metthem in the last week and you
know, as MGP you get to know thewomen and I'm like I don't
recognize this woman, but she'sgot, she's quite large, so one
(28:21):
hopes that she's not too prem.
But unfortunately it turned outthat it was 26 week, twins on
board and her waters had goneand.
But we actually handled itreally really well and um, I say
we, I mean I, I phoned thecavalry and got everyone in and
luckily everyone had their phoneon and, um, you know the two
(28:43):
anesthetists for the two twins,um, two, you know two, two
obstetricians, all the midwiveswe could get hold of and and we
actually had more time than wethought we had probably almost
three hours from her admissionto her delivery of those very
premature twins.
And we're on telehealth to amajor hospital where they're all
(29:06):
watching us and givingdirection.
Because it was so remote, theyneeded to see that the babies
were born alive before they putinto place the transfer, because
they'd turn up and we didn'thave success and so there was a
lot of time of keeping thosebabies going before they were
able to be transferred.
But that was fantastic and itwas close enough to where I
(29:30):
lived that I was able to seethat lady after she had gone
further afield than where I liveand then came back to there,
and then I was able to be therewhen she was discharged with
those twins.
So eventually, you know, itwouldn't be no better term.
So a full, many weeks, moneymonths after, and then, because
the world of midwifery is sosmall in Australia, that when I
(29:52):
was on my last placement just inSeptember on the other side of
Australia, I was asked to mentora student in birth suite and I
said hello, I'm you know, I'myou know.
And she said of course.
She said don't you remember me?
I was there when the twins wereborn, and so she and she was
now in her final year of.
I was like I don't rememberanything about the when the
(30:12):
twins were born, and so she andshe was now in her final year of
.
I was like I don't rememberanything about the night the
twins were born but yes, and ofcourse I recognized it then, but
out of the absolute, out ofcontext of where we were, so,
yeah, so things have overlapped,like that.
And when you do a midwifery jobas a contract, even if you've
never met the other midwivesthere, if you, you know, because
(30:33):
I'm of a Facebook age yes, Ithink it's meant for the only
for the over 40s.
Sam Miklos (30:39):
Yes, we are in that group.
Lorraine Evans (30:41):
Yes, If you go on, you will always and put in
the new person that you've justmet on the contract.
Even they will have friendsthat you know there's such a
small community of midwives.
So you'll be able to say, oh,you know so and so, yes, I met
them on that contract and soyou're able to sort of make all
those connections that way butwhere's the craziest place
(31:01):
you've delivered a baby?
Sam Miklos (31:02):
does it mean anywhere you go?
Lorraine Evans (31:04):
god, that was a bit well, I think those, you
know those twins there were.
That was pretty hairy, I mean.
Kate Coomber (31:11):
Ever not in a hospital.
Lorraine Evans (31:13):
Well, I did In London you train a lot with the
home births and I can't claimthis is my own, but I remember,
in London too, that a frienddelivered a woman in the Chelsea
and Westminster Hospital liftsand she got onto her knees and
she said I had just.
She had a wool coat on.
(31:34):
Coming just back from her breakand she said I couldn't believe
it, I had it dry cleaned lastweek and then of course
everything had run up her armsfrom delivering this baby on her
knees and the woman standing inthe lift.
Sam Miklos (31:44):
Yes, Of all the hospital lifts, though in London
, I feel that would haveprobably been one of the nicer
ones but they never come whenyou want them.
Lorraine Evans (31:51):
She might have been there a week trying to get
up there.
Sam Miklos (31:56):
You know you talked before about the telehealth
support and you know thinkingabout someone who's considering
going out to a remote orregional area.
Do you feel supported enoughwhen those scenarios happen?
Lorraine Evans (32:06):
and you are talking to someone in telehealth
, I think yes, so the telehealthsituation is mainly doctor to
doctor in that sense, or, Ithink, nurse, not midwife.
So sometimes it might be anobstetric situation on, say, a
small island up at the top ofAustralia where those very
(32:26):
isolated nurses are suddenlyfaced with an obstetric
situation and then they might beon telehealth to us directing
and I'm trying to talk a nursethrough how to find a fetal
heart on the lady that she'swith and things like that.
But I think that you know where, wherever I have been placed,
(32:47):
through Cornerstone as well, Ihave always had the support of
an on-call doctor.
Through Cornerstone as well, Ihave always had the support of
an on-call doctor and most ofthem are, you know, within 10,
15 minutes and they've gotdifferent, as always, different
personalities and differentdegrees of involvement.
So there's been some, you know,consultants on some projects
(33:09):
that want to know wake me up inthe middle of the night, tell me
if there's somebody in labour.
And when they're at secondstage, about to have a baby, I
want to know, I want to be inthe hospital, so if something
goes wrong I'm right there.
Um.
To other doctors who say um,you know well, if your midwives,
you know what you're doing.
Don't wake me up and tell meyou're having a baby.
That's your job.
Um, only call me if there's aproblem, I'll be there.
So it just depends.
And it's the same hospital.
(33:29):
It just depends who's on callwhich doctors at that point.
And that's the thing with withcontracts.
And I meet other agencymidwives on my travels and they
always are surprised that I'm onmy second or third tour of duty
of that place and they're likeI never go back.
You always think it's going tobe, but just accept your first
contract and keep moving,because when you go back things
have changed.
(33:49):
There's different management ordifferent doctors or different
people working and you know youhad such a great time and then
you can lose that sort of memoryof that if you don't have that
repeat time.
But you know, on the whole Ihave enjoyed going back and
there's something, there'ssomething nice about being asked
to go back and it's sort of.
Kate Coomber (34:07):
I think, um, it clearly really suits you this
whole traveling locum lifestyle,and I think it sounds like
you've got to be a really goodcommunicator to make it work.
Because even understandingthose nuances, when you get to a
contract of how am I going tocommunicate with this doctor,
how would they like us?
You know, how will theycommunicate with us, and vice
versa that's a skill in itself,isn't it?
(34:27):
To be able to understand and togive the time to get to know,
that hospital.
Lorraine Evans (34:32):
I think you know that they the places where
we're going.
They're quite used to agencystaff as well and they even have
some of them a little guide toto the doctors, you know exactly
, and it's not just their glovesize, yeah, yeah, you know what
to look out for for them, youknow so do you have a favorite
(34:53):
place?
Kate Coomber (34:54):
I'm just about to ask that.
Sam Miklos (34:55):
Oh my god, it's interesting.
I've never actually thoughtabout not going back to the same
place to ruin the memories?
Lorraine Evans (35:01):
yeah, I really agree with that.
Sam Miklos (35:03):
Now I can I'm not not for asian go back to the
same place multiple times.
Kate Coomber (35:06):
Yeah, we should be promoting that.
Lorraine Evans (35:07):
But even if you did have a less pleasant
experience that first time, itcould be completely different
another time yes and they don'trule anything out is maybe the
message there Exactly, and Ithink, taking enough with for me
, I never travel light, takingenough of your own things to not
so that you can prepare food oryou know.
Sam Miklos (35:29):
Yeah, what's in your before we get to favorites like
what's in your before you getto favorites like what's in your
suitcase that you take a pillow, because if you end up with a
hospital plastic pillow, you'regoing to be distressed by that.
Lorraine Evans (35:39):
Um, if I, you know, I try and find out what
size bed I'm getting.
So if and if possible, I put ina extra set of linen.
So just be sure that you've gotsomething that's clean, um,
when you first arrive, orsomething that you know is of a
decent quality.
But then I'm absolutely amassive op shopper and most
places that I've worked a fewexceptions, but most places have
(36:01):
an op shop and I'm on the firstday as I can, my first day and
then I'm like you know what, I'mnot going to be frustrated by
the fact that I can't cookbecause somebody's used the pan
and hasn't washed it up.
But you can't take sauce, bigfrying pans and all of these
sorts of equipment with you.
So I just go down the op shopand shell out a few essentials,
(36:21):
after having checked out what'sin the kitchen and sort of like
OK, now I know I can do thisquite easily and that's going to
be that, and then I donate themeither back to the op shop or
to the kitchen when I go andthat sort of works out too.
And just, yeah, I mean it'shaving that flexibility to go
somewhere new and and not be.
And I had some great advicewhen I went to America for
(36:44):
university for that year abroadand the professor said something
like it'd be very easy when yougo somewhere that's similar to
where you are and be veryfrustrated by the differences.
Because you know what do youmean?
Go from England to America?
What do you mean?
You have to pay for banking,which at that time you did in
the States and not in the UK.
What do you mean?
This closes on a Friday, whatdo you mean?
(37:06):
And you're very like.
This place is crazy.
What's wrong with these people?
Whereas you were went from theUK to Africa, you'd be like, oh,
things are closed on Friday.
Well, that's Africa, yes.
And it's like having theattitude of just stop comparing.
It's different.
And just because it there's somany similarities, don't just
accept.
Sam Miklos (37:23):
There's going to be differences between where you go
and embrace them, I guess, andyou're there for difference,
right?
Kate Coomber (37:28):
yeah, you don't go to different countries and
different places in hope thatit's all the same.
Lorraine Evans (37:32):
No, otherwise you just stay home exactly, and
one of the great things that Ifound is um and that's this is
varied from place to place ishow involved the um, the people
that do live there, or the otheragency, in terms of you know,
one of them might have a car umis how interested they are in
helping you sightsee or invitingyou to their homes or, you know
(37:54):
, having you… Welcoming you intothe community and allowing you
to enjoy it.
Sam Miklos (37:58):
Because do you, on your days off, do you explore?
Lorraine Evans (38:02):
always I try to.
I try to see as much aspossible and that depends
because, of course, somecontracts come with a car.
As technology advances, it'sbecoming more restrictive
because they can see on theirGPS where you've been, and it
shouldn't be Dan Murphy's, I wasthinking, because you can't do
your hobby of wine judgingonline really.
Sam Miklos (38:23):
So have you got other hobbies that you're taking
there?
Lorraine Evans (38:25):
So, yes, tasmania was fantastic, but it's
probably not a good look tohave the health car outside the
vineyard.
So, yes, sometimes you have tobe nice, could be an emergency.
I was just going to say unlessyou're delivering a baby?
Sam Miklos (38:37):
Yes, exactly.
Lorraine Evans (38:38):
Don't mind me.
No, I think.
Yes, I try to play and there'salways somebody.
Even on my last very shortcontract, there was a lovely
lady that took me out to see afantastic beach and she had a
huge four-wheel drive and wedrove over the top of these
dunes and came down to this, youknow, surreal clear blue water
(39:02):
and white crystal.
You know, crystal, white sand.
And I was like, is this real?
It's so insane.
And um, and then we got in.
There was a sort of an inletand I said, but there's no crocs
.
And she said, said, well, we'dbe really unlucky.
I'm like, yes, we would be.
Sam Miklos (39:18):
Where's your favorite location been?
Are you top three?
Lorraine Evans (39:21):
You see, it's all about the people, as I say.
So, you know, and for differentreasons.
And so, like I've met one of myvery good friends when I was in
Rockhampton, and you know,unless you're really into the
state, rockhampton has got a lotto learn from.
Rockhampton yeah, there you go,but you know it's not like a
top, but then I did have afantastic trip from.
(39:43):
There's a lot to see from there.
Kate Coomber (39:45):
Yeah, I went to the Keppel Islands for example.
Lorraine Evans (39:48):
And also they have Yippoon the wags the
wednesday afternoon, guys andgirls sailing.
So I also took up sailing so Iwas able to do some sailing on
um when I was announcingrockhampton and so you know, and
there's always some festivaland I tend to encourage the
other staff to sign up for a pubquiz.
I love a pub quiz and I try toalso make that a mix of doctors
(40:11):
as well as midwives and nurses,which doesn't always go down
well initially, but then when wewin it does, because we've got
a much broader sense of ages andsexes and you know knowledge,
you know interests to be able towin.
So yeah, I've sort of haveenjoyed that aspect of it.
And you know, in Tasmania, Imean, who can't love Tasmania,
(40:32):
except it's cold?
Sam Miklos (40:33):
Yeah.
Lorraine Evans (40:34):
But in terms of the food and the drink and you
know, and I've sort of lovedbeing part of a remote island
experience up in Thursday Island, because that is also pretty
unique and not something that Iwould want to do, I wouldn't
want to move there and have allthe inconveniences of living
that they, you know that, comewith that, particularly as a,
(40:54):
you know, single woman, being upthere alone, very limited, but
how fantastic to do that for,you know, two months or a few
weeks, even just just very luckyto have that opportunity and is
there any way still on yourbucket list?
Oh plenty, south Australia, farmore.
I think I'd like to seeKangaroo Island and you know I
(41:16):
remember I hadn't reallyconsidered.
I think South Australia is likesort of they're keeping it in
the same way that Australians asthe whole are trying to put off
the rest of the world the talesof dangerous creatures that
really aren't part of oureveryday life at all.
I still think South Australia'sgot their little curtains drawn
and like don't notice, we'refantastic.
Because I remember going downfor actually a sad reason, to
(41:38):
see a friend who had terminalcancer and to say goodbye, but
then phoning my agent here atCornerstone to say, do you do
work here?
You know when I was in Adelaide, do you do work down here?
This is have you seen thesebeaches?
Because, know, when I was inAdelaide, do you do work down
here?
Have you seen these beaches?
Because my agent's also fromthe UK.
It's like the Caribbean downhere.
What's going on?
Why haven't you told us aboutthis?
(41:59):
Why isn't everybody in SouthAustralia?
Well, the Great Whites might beone reason, but then you can
argue for the creatures anywhere.
So, yeah, I think there's moreto see in South Australia.
So, yeah, I think there's moreto see in South Australia.
It's a shame that New SouthWales doesn't have fantastic
rates, because I think there'splenty there.
And I'd love to sort of tie thatin with a festival.
Who wouldn't want to go?
Sam Miklos (42:18):
you know to Before they stop being a thing.
I've got to come back to thesingle woman thing Right Now.
We've talked about this onanother podcast with another
single lady, and how do you know?
Kate Coomber (42:29):
traveling around who you know, then found someone
, so maybe we had something todo with that.
Oh, did we?
Sam Miklos (42:34):
yes, well, well, yeah, being out on contract in
these small communities it canhave its moments.
Lorraine Evans (42:40):
okay, there can be fun, and there also you have
to be so careful when it's sotiny.
If you were to go on any of theonline apps, it's going to be
immediately obvious you're goingto see it and then you're going
to see them the next day in thehospital.
So very careful there.
But no, there's an opportunity,I think, as a single person, to
have you know widen.
(43:00):
You know some of the places I'dsay are less of a gene pool and
more of a sort of a murkypuddle, and then other places
you might just hit lucky, yeah.
Or, of course, you knowtravelling on your way or meet
someone, and of course you knowI'd love for dating to go back
to the more organic andintroductions.
(43:21):
But of course, by doing thesecontracts, I am meeting more
people from different places whoare inviting me to go visit.
Kate Coomber (43:28):
And I think when you're in these smaller
communities they tend to do alot of things you know from
those regional the quizzes andthe community events.
Lorraine Evans (43:39):
There's probably less people on the app, so it's
more of an organic experience.
Well, exactly Some of thesmaller places.
So you know there was a muchbigger disparity between
doctors' pay and nurses' pay inthe UK, and so doctors at the
end of most shifts would saycome on out for a drink.
You know, that was terrible.
Let's all go out for a drinkand put their card behind the
bar.
(43:59):
And that has never happened,you know, in Australia.
But I think it's because nursesaren't starving here.
If I were you now, once yourepisode goes live the next
doctor you're working with willsend it to them and be like you
need to pop the car behind thebar.
But I think, because they werefully aware Back home, you know,
and I think, unfortunatelybecause they haven't increased
(44:21):
the salaries back there for solong, that some, you know, you
qualify for food stamps as anurse.
Wow, it's absolutely ridiculous.
Whereas here, of course, andparticularly in agency work, you
know, you are given, you know,a very decent wage to live on.
So the idea is that the doctorshouldn't have to cover all the
drinks.
But in these smaller and youactually don't see them outside
(44:41):
of work unless you convince themto go to a quiz, but but in
these smaller areas there's onlythe one pub anyway.
So you will get to sort ofsocialize.
You will be drunkenly singingkaraoke with, you know, with
everybody from the hospital,from you know from, from
cleaning and catering staff, allthe way up to the, you know,
the, the head of the hospital,because that's the place to go.
(45:02):
And so that is sort of anotherinteresting aspect of getting
you know being fully part of thehealthcare.
Sam Miklos (45:08):
yeah, what would you ?
You know, when you look back onthe highlight reels of all
these years of locuming, isthere a memory like the best
memory that you think, thatreally makes you laugh and
brings a smile to your face?
Lorraine Evans (45:20):
I know you're fishing because you know this
story.
Sam Miklos (45:24):
That's the time that I that is so unlike you.
Did you need a refill?
Lorraine Evans (45:27):
You fill that and I'll fill it, so I did have
a little incident, I guess,where I was.
I just had a little fling withone of the rescue team the
helicopter rescue team and hehad come to say goodbye at the
airport and unfortunately therewas an incident at the airport
(45:48):
where somebody had collapsed andso we of course got our also
got involved while waiting forthe ambulance and um, and we had
kept our situation quite secretand um.
But then we were both involvedin this incident doctors
arriving, cannulations happeningwith you know, defibs, no, you
know it's all going on.
And then I suddenly realizedactually my plane's going, and
(46:09):
so across the patient, we sortof lent over the poor man and he
kissed me goodbye, and then Istood up and ran for my plane
and everybody else that wasinvolved, who I also knew from,
you know, from this very smallcommunity, were like what just
happened, that's a movie waitingto happen.
Sam Miklos (46:26):
Is this the way we end these situations now?
Yes, exactly.
Lorraine Evans (46:29):
And he wasn't in uniform or anything, so he was
just a random man at the airport.
And then they were like, oh, Iknow who he is, oh, my god, you
would have been to find them allthere.
You would have been like what Iknow and the poor man
underneath us would be like.
What are you doing?
Sam Miklos (46:43):
It's not so good.
Me me, Focus on me.
Lorraine Evans (46:47):
But he was fine and very stable.
At that point I bet, yeah, youwere like yep, sorted, let's do
it.
Goodbye Back onto me.
Sam Miklos (46:54):
You know, just before we wrap up, you've said
that you know, locum work bringssoul to your life.
What is it about the work?
Lorraine Evans (47:08):
I think it is that you, you know that you're
not in the rut, that you dogenuinely get to go to a place
and you have the opportunity tomeet so many, so many people.
And sometimes it can be quite,quite difficult because they you
know, some people might not bethrilled with the healthcare
situation or not want to bethere at all, and you get to
have an opportunity to treatpeople with the utmost kindness
(47:28):
and respect, and maybe just noteverybody, but some people turn
a situation around to a pointwhere someone who really didn't
want to be there, really wasquite angry, upset on their
arrival, really was facing atricky situation with the social
services or something else fromactually trusting you, and now
suddenly maybe turning up formore appointments or
(47:51):
understanding what the drug testis for, and that we're trying
to prove that you're not, notprove that you are, that this is
going to help you.
You know something being able toin, even in a short time,
sometimes by just, you know,being open and respectful, have
an opportunity to make adifference, and I think you can,
of course, do that in in oneplace as well.
(48:12):
But I think it's almost like afresh face and look, I don't
know what I'm doing here, but Iactually just want to help you.
Kate Coomber (48:18):
is is a unique a position to be in you know it
sounds like your role in Londonhelping women in the shelter,
has really lent itself sobeautifully to this?
Lorraine Evans (48:27):
That actually could well be because, yes, I
get very cross when people andwe all judge.
I even have a shirt that afriend gave me which said
silently judging you.
And then on the back it saysand now I'm talking about you,
which is bad, but we're alljudgy.
But you know, when you knowthat people don't choose their
(48:50):
life path sometimes and they'vehad very different choices or
opportunities, and I know thatI'm have been really fortunate
with my life of travel and myopportunities, my sort of stable
family background and I've justbeen.
All the cards dealt have been.
I've been very lucky hand andother people have not.
They've ended up with a load ofyou know, just a hand that
(49:12):
doesn't win them anything.
And so, to try not to judge,and I get very cross even when
people say can you believe thatthis woman whose baby she's got
gestational diabetes and she'seating a king size Mars bar now,
and you know?
And now the baby's?
You know this and all thesepeople, and I'm like you know
what, if eating a healthy dietwas that easy, we'd all be
(49:32):
supermodels, yeah, and we don'tknow anything about why this
woman is eating like this, and Ithink we can just back off with
the rolling of the eyes andactually just see, well, what
can we do today?
And I even had an anesthetistonce tell a woman in labor who
was requesting an epidural well,this is going to be very
(49:52):
difficult as you're so fat, ohmy gosh.
And I got very annoyed with himand I said not helpful,
actually, because you can't doanything about that right now,
except you've upset her.
So maybe, um, you know, justunnecessary, unnecessary abuse,
you know a bit more compassion.
Kate Coomber (50:10):
Yes, exactly.
Lorraine Evans (50:12):
Um, just just say nothing.
You know that whole.
If you can't say something kindof say nothing at all but um,
yeah, that is what I think isthe sort of the soul element of
it, maybe, if that's what youquoted me and I said at one
point.
But just yeah, I like thisopportunity to and I sometimes
maybe talk too much to peopleand I'm still, you know, writing
my notes later because I'veactually, but it's about seeing
(50:34):
people, isn't it?
It's about, you know, not justnext.
Kate Coomber (50:38):
And you're seeing people in quite a vulnerable
state.
You know like going having ababy is not a straightforward,
obvious process that people justknow what to do like you know
it's you'd rather.
Sam Miklos (50:48):
You'd rather have a midwife that's present and
talking to you than writing thenotes and you're wondering
what's your?
Kate Coomber (50:53):
what's your writing?
Are we all good over here?
Lorraine Evans (50:55):
yeah, people would feel lucky to have you in
the room with them I think, butI think that I would say you
know, not everyone's cup of tea.
I think I was given a veryhelpful advice from one of the
consultants that colourfulpeople are remembered and you
know and appreciated by many,but disliked by a few because
(51:16):
you're too bright and that's notbright intelligence, it's just
too much Like.
You know I'm not their personand that's fine too, because you
know you have to have the skinlike a rhinoceros if you're
going to be sort of.
Kate Coomber (51:27):
you know, I saw you're also not everyone's cup
of tea, but it's because you'rea glass of champagne.
Sam Miklos (51:33):
Yes, when you said that, you looked at me and I was
like am I not everyone's cup of?
Tea Too much, we can talk aboutit Too much Did you say that
she just looked at me.
I think we're both too much andcan relate.
Love it yeah.
Kate Coomber (51:45):
Thank you so much.
You're very welcome.
It's been so wonderful to spendmore time with you today.
With this season, we'redonating to a charity of your
choice.
Where should we raise someawareness today?
Lorraine Evans (51:57):
Well, I would like the donation to go back to
Cairns, to the public hospitalthere, to the Far North
Queensland.
Foundation because they arehelping provide equipment for
the hospital that's not on thissort of budget for Queensland
Health but helps people who livethere get treatment up there
without having to come down toBrisbane, for example, for
(52:22):
example, and be separated fromthe support networks that they
would normally have in what is,for example, cancer or major
surgery situations.
So that's sort of a way I thinkthat would be a nice way to
donate.
Yeah, fantastic, Thank you.
Sam Miklos (52:34):
Lorraine, thank you so much.
I am so glad that the techdidn't work last time Me too.
Kate Coomber (52:38):
Oh, I thought you were saying now no.
Oh, my God, I'm so sorry aboutthat.
Lord, imagine if it doesn't.
Sam Miklos (52:45):
But just, it's so nice to have you in this space
and you know you are just aphenomenal midwife and hearing
your stories, there were so manythings.
I mean, we didn't even get toBerlin, like so much that I want
to.
I feel like we need like aseason three.
We need to get you back again.
But look, it's been a joytalking to you.
Thank you for sharing yourstories and just thank you for
(53:05):
being you.
You've just been incredible anda great advocate along all of
the years that you've worked forus.
Lorraine Evans (53:10):
Thank you.
Thanks so much Thank you.
Sam Miklos (53:12):
Cheers.
Thanks for tuning into it.
Takes Heart.
Kate Coomber (53:17):
If you love this episode, subscribe, leave a
review or share it with a friend, and if you know someone with a
great story in healthcare, getin touch.
Follow us on socials for allthe behind-the-scenes fun, and
we'll see you next time.
Welcome to it Takes Heart.
I'm Kate and I'm Sam, and wecan't wait to share more
incredible stories of healthcareprofessionals making an impact
across Australia.
Lorraine Evans (00:08):
One of my best jobs in my life before midwifery
had been running the hostel forthe homeless women and I think
I liked that because it was sortof on a really personal level
with the women.
First time I'd actuallyscrubbed in.
I was like, oh.
And then the next thing I knewI had my hands inside a woman's
(00:33):
abdomen and they were sayingjust pull apart.
It's better to be torn ratherthan cut Rock back, rock back
and pull.
Four weeks ago I was unblockingthe photocopier.
Kate Coomber (00:40):
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the
land of which we meet who, forcenturies, have shared ancient
methods of healing and cared fortheir communities.
We pay our respects to elders,past and present.
Sam Miklos (00:56):
The midwife that we're chatting with today has
had an incredible life.
Born into an Air Force familyin Singapore, lorraine Evans has
travelled the world andcertainly had an eclectic career
, which included managing ahostel for homeless women, media
sales in London, teachingEnglish in Thailand, then PA
work in the UK before studyingmidwifery.
In 2012, she landed inAustralia with her midwifery
(01:18):
degree and a goal to see as muchof this country's vast
landscapes as she could.
There's never a dull moment inLorraine's life.
She's even a wine judge in herspare time, and she arrived
today carrying a backpack fullof wine which we loved, although
I don't know if it's been givento us, but let's see.
Kate Coomber (01:35):
We can wait and see Strategically sitting in
your office.
I know right, I'll pop it inthere.
Sam Miklos (01:39):
The team at Cornerstone say Lorraine is kind
, caring and just so incrediblyfun and we are so proud to have
her as part of our Cornerstonecommunity.
So welcome Lorraine to.
It Takes Heart, thank you.
Kate Coomber (01:50):
And thank you for coming in again.
I think, truth telling, this isthe second time that we've
recorded an episode with you,because the first time was a few
months ago when we met you.
But we met you via Zoom and wehad a few technical issues that
day and we thought we know thatlorraine is just life and soul
and we wanted to see you inperson but we also didn't have a
(02:12):
studio, we didn't have a studio.
We were in sort of uh in anoff-site and it just still that
day just kind of was it wentfrom bad to worse, it was really
difficult.
We learned a lot that day, soit's so nice.
Thank you for swinging by onyour way, I believe, up to the
Sunshine Coast.
That's right On a bit of aholiday with your friend.
Sam Miklos (02:28):
Yes, so before we kick off, then, wine judging.
I think we need to.
I think the benefit of being inperson is that we can set the
tone for today a little bitdifferently to on Zoom.
Now tell me first of all, howdo you become a wine judge?
Lorraine Evans (02:43):
well, I, I'm a wine judge, um, you know, by
default, because in cairns theyhave, they have a wine show and
I started as a steward, which isthe person in the back who just
pours the wine, but you don'tget paid for it, it's voluntary
work.
So they allow you to sit in ona on on some judging and you,
you know, if they're judging 70Shiraz's, you might get 30 and
(03:07):
you have your.
You know your score sheet andyou do your thing and then you
sit down with the judges this iswhen you're still a steward, if
you'd like to and then youcompare scores, and this, every
time I would, I was always yes,me, me.
I want to do that for as manytimes as I could during the week
, appreciate and um you have tosign a waiver to spit.
(03:28):
But, as, as nurses will know anddoctors, whatever that alcohol
is absorbed through the, throughyour mouth, um, you know, that
is the fastest way into thebloodstream.
Well, there's also thealternative, but usually, like
for a baby that's got a lowblood sugar, for example, we
don't give it to drink the sugar, we actually rub it into the
gums.
Yeah, so a lot of alcohol isactually you can't drive to a
(03:51):
wine, a wine judging, becauseyou know, even though you do
spit out the amount that you'vepotentially taken, quite a lot
of the alcohol has been absorbed.
But, um, I started off notgreat, but then, as you know, I
was doing this.
I think it's been like 11 yearsnow and I've been a judge,
maybe the last five and it justbecame to the point where I was
(04:11):
able to fight my corner.
I did a wine course.
I met up with the other winejudges that were local to Cairns
for these wine evenings whereyou know it's disguised and you
pour yours and you havequestions, and therefore I just
got further and further into thewine.
But when the judges are allintroduced to them, you know to
each other, at the start of eachwine show.
(04:32):
They always say you know, thisis blah-de-blah, and they've
been working for Brook Brothersfor this many years.
And here's the winemaker fromSouth Australia.
And and then they get to me andthey say and here's Lorraine
the midwife, and she drinks alot of wine.
Sam Miklos (04:48):
I think that's a great intro.
I think so Well, kate and I.
This is Kate, and she drinks alot of wine too.
And we thought, as do I, herfriend.
We were like well, we wouldlove to give you our favourite
rosé and get you to judge ourrosé before we get started.
So I'm going to get Kate topour and then also we can enjoy
that podcast.
(05:09):
There was a.
Kate Coomber (05:11):
Maybe we might take two on that, kate's not
used to pouring.
Sam Miklos (05:14):
She's used to it.
What did you do?
And she smashed her whole glass.
So we're going to get you to dothe next one.
Lorraine Evans (05:23):
We'll have to have one of them in a.
I'll have a glass.
Kate Coomber (05:27):
Do we just cut?
No, we can just go.
It's real.
Sam Miklos (05:32):
I don't mind.
I'm from Toowoomba, so I'mhappy to have mine, thank you.
This is yours.
When I grew up, we had it in abag, strapped to the clothesline
.
Lorraine Evans (05:41):
I heard there was that Goon of Fortune.
That's what I've come.
That Goon of Fortune, yes,that's what I've come from.
Kate Coomber (05:45):
Goon of Fortune, strap it up to the clothesline
spin it around the backyard whenit stops instead of spin the
bottle.
Sam Miklos (05:50):
So tell us a little about this rosé.
Lorraine Evans (05:52):
Oh goodness, you put me absolutely on the spot
so well.
One of the first things thatyou know, as are we, we just
smashed it off.
It's the first one of the day.
I would steal your questionsfor a second.
You need pure white behindbecause you're going to look at
the colour first.
Right, and obviously this is,you know, being a rosé.
(06:13):
It is in between the two, so Iwould imagine this one has only
been lightly left in contactwith the skins, but who knows?
Right and then we'll go forwhether or not we've got
something decent on the nose.
And is that decent on your nose?
It certainly is.
Um, you know, and your nose cansmell more than your tongue can
(06:34):
taste.
So there should be quite a lotgoing on here, and then we get
the little tiny bit into yourmouth.
Sam Miklos (06:50):
So you kept that in your mouth.
Yeah, I could have had threeglasses in that time.
Lorraine Evans (06:58):
But what you're doing is you're actually letting
it go underneath your tongueand then you're breathing in to
allow air to go over it so thatyou can actually taste the
flavours, and then you'll noticethat there's more than one
layer to the wine.
If it's a good wine, it shouldtaste different, as you.
Sam Miklos (07:10):
I can't get myself to breathe and taste.
Lorraine Evans (07:12):
Yes, this is why a lot of people make a strange
noise when they do that.
But you know it's not thatimportant, but you do need to
keep it in your mouth and let it.
So it's like a journey from thestart, the first taste, until
you actually swallow, and thenthere should still be some
flavors and that's sort of thelength of the wine as to whether
or not the wine has lots ofcharacter, lots going on.
(07:33):
I appreciate that a little bitmore now I know.
Kate Coomber (07:36):
Thank you for the little tips.
Lorraine Evans (07:37):
But it doesn't mean that you have to have
fabulous wine.
The sign of a good wine is thatyou've opened the bottle and
then you look around and it'sgone.
Kate Coomber (07:44):
True wine, the sign of a good wine is that
you've opened the bottle andthen you look around and it's
gone.
Lorraine Evans (07:47):
Um, true, someone smashed a glass, but
that that everyone's enjoying it, that you know.
No, it just it hasn't got to bean award-winning wine to be a
good wine to have with yourfriends or with a meal, and
sometimes those wines are sointense yeah that you wouldn't
want more than one glass, andthat's why they sell those fancy
smancy.
You know aerating gas, that?
will mean that you can keepthose bottles of wine because
(08:09):
actually it's too much.
You know, it's like anincredibly such an experience.
You wouldn't want to drink thebottle.
So there's wine for differentoccasions and this is delicious.
Sam Miklos (08:17):
This is wine for a podcast?
Yes, well cheers to that andenjoy that while you're here we
can absolutely get a top up ifwe need as well, now that Kate's
poured that.
Kate Coomber (08:28):
Our tech team will just be going nuts that we've
got so much liquid near.
Lorraine Evans (08:32):
All the equipment, yes, near all the
equipment.
Sam Miklos (08:35):
And Korea.
Kate Coomber (08:36):
Let's talk about Korea.
I'm a cheat.
Sam Miklos (08:41):
This will be the first time where we've ever had
to cut an episode because we putwine into it.
And now we're just likehopefully we won't have to do
tastery.
Kate Coomber (08:50):
What's she?
Sam Miklos (08:51):
had about with Lorraine, not sure, but god, it
was fun.
Kate Coomber (08:53):
I feel like I know more things, so going to your
career wine judging, which isonly a hobby that is not a
career point.
Lorraine Evans (09:05):
I am like the lowest of the low in this
scenario and I'm not a topmanager, I think it's a
wonderful hobby.
Sam Miklos (09:11):
Yeah, I think I need a hobby like that, Just a hobby
in general but anyway.
Good hobbies, but I thinkyou're saying the careers that
we talked about.
There's so many differentavenues.
You've worked.
Lorraine Evans (09:21):
Yeah, how did you come to midwifery?
Why did you choose well,midwifery, well, midwifery.
Um, I realized, because I wasborn, and you know, I was born
in singapore.
My parents were stationed inmalaysia and we always moved
every three years.
It was constant of of moving,even if we went back to berlin,
for example, for three tours, um, we were always moving.
(09:42):
We're always making sort of newfriends and learning, and you
could never get bored becausethere was always something.
Nothing just went on.
You never assume you've got allthe time in the world to do
something, because you won't behere next year, you'll be
somewhere else.
You just got to keep moving.
And then, of course, my parentsretired and I was sort of, and
I managed to pick a universitycourse that came with a year
(10:04):
abroad.
And I was sort of, and Imanaged to pick a university
course that came with a yearabroad and that was that
actually was part of my choosingof American studies was a year
in America.
How fabulous.
I must do that Americanliterature Never been more
interested and then.
So I often don't make mydecisions based on the most
logical of reasons.
And I've been, you know,traveling there.
(10:24):
I I encouraged a partner in thepast to take a job in Hong Kong
because I thought that would beinteresting.
He had never lived abroad inhis life but he we went there.
That didn't work out but Istill, I realized, wasn't keen
to just stay in the UK and Istarted to think well, what jobs
would I be able to do thatwould enable the travel and
(10:46):
relocation from London, becauseLondon is fabulous, as I imagine
Sydney is if you're wealthy,and pretty awful if you're on a
low wage.
And one of my best jobs in mylife before midwifery had been
running the hostel for thehomeless women.
And I think I liked that becauseit was sort of on a really
(11:08):
personal level with the women,getting to know them, getting to
understand, getting to helpthem to get themselves back on
their feet, get their benefitssorted out, get them new
accommodation.
After the hostel there was alimited time that they could
stay there, so setting them upto go on.
And I just realized that when Ihad done that job before
midwifery for the longest of allmy jobs.
(11:29):
And then I tried all thesedifferent things and I was in
property and being a PA in aninternational property company,
and then I was flying businessclass to Chicago in my suit and
heels and my briefcase and doingall of those things.
But I never enjoyed it as muchas I did when I was working with
the women in the hostel.
(11:50):
And so when I thought, right,what jobs can I do?
That will take me out of the UKand America was actually on my
list and thank goodness we'vedodged that bullet it just goes
from bad to worse there.
But also that you know, and ofcourse, health care was on the
list and then, the more I lookedinto it, midwifery, of course,
(12:10):
was back with working with womenand also you know, just that
whole sort of miracle of lifethat it's a real privilege.
Well, I think in nursing a lotof people who've got their
calling I have a friend whoworks in palliative care back in
the UK and I could not do that,but she is fabulous at that.
But there's like a place thatyou're drawn to, I think, in
(12:31):
healthcare, and for me, the ideain midwifery is that you
actually have healthy women onthe whole doing a normal and
natural process, and it'sactually almost the reverse of
healthcare.
You're trying to limit theinterference of healthcare, to
give them the most positive,normal experience that they can
have, unless they do have healthissues or anything that needs
(12:54):
specific attention.
And then it's your job as amidwife to ensure that they're
safe and that that's happeningtoo.
So I decided to do themidwifery course and come away
and Australia was looking formidwives and I thought, well,
this is fantastic, I can getback to my palm trees, my, my um
, fun, sort of more relaxedlifestyle.
And, yeah I, I sort of bit thebullet and came over to
(13:17):
Australia not long after I hadgraduated so, yeah, that's an
interesting piece.
Sam Miklos (13:21):
like to graduate and then come out to Australia.
Was it hard to get your ARPAregistration Not at all To come
for a job, or was it gettingwork the?
Lorraine Evans (13:29):
English system of training midwives even I'm a
direct entry midwife, not alsonurse trained at that point was
of such a high level.
You'll have delivered many morebabies than you're required 40
or 60.
I can't even remember it was solong now, but I think that
you're exposed to the real worldof midwifery as a student in
(13:52):
London.
You really are.
I caught my first baby on myfirst day in the hospital with
another midwife.
Kate Coomber (14:01):
I did not expect that.
Lorraine Evans (14:03):
I remember being in theatres two or three weeks
later, first time I'd actuallyscrubbed in.
Yes, I was like, oh.
And then the next thing I knew,I had my hands inside a woman's
abdomen and they were sayingjust pull apart, it's better to
be torn rather than cut Rockback, rock back and pull.
And I was thinking, good Lord,four weeks ago I was unblocking
(14:25):
the photocopier.
Sam Miklos (14:26):
Oh, my God.
Lorraine Evans (14:27):
And now I sort of have my hands inside this
lady and I'm pulling her abdomenapart.
My God, here in Australiaactually, when you attend a
cesarean birth, the Australianmidwives are not quite so
hands-on.
Yeah.
Sam Miklos (14:40):
I was just thinking about my cesarean birth no the
midwives are not involved.
No one was there.
It was just the doctor.
No one was there.
Lorraine Evans (14:45):
There you go, the midwives in England are
really into that.
A lot of them are trained inpassing the instruments to the
doctor.
You're often asked to hold acertain one to help them and,
yes, you're fully scrubbing,whereas here you'd put a pair of
gloves and a gown and you'reall set and just take the baby.
But yeah, I just was takenaback and astounded by how
quickly and I did actually workfor almost a year in London as a
(15:10):
qualified midwife.
So when I started in Cairns Iwasn't a actual grad, I was a
fully fledged midwife at thatpoint, because I think it had by
the time I was like five, sixdays short of the full grad year
when I left and because I wassponsored, in fact, by the
private hospital.
Initially I had moved from thepublic sector to the private
(15:32):
sector, which was the samehospital, just had a different
wing.
This was in Cairns.
Sam Miklos (15:37):
No, this was in London, in London, chelsea and
Westminster.
I used to play some alliedhealth staff in Chelsea and
Westminster when I was workingin London.
That's a hustly bustly place toget your training.
Lorraine Evans (15:48):
So I had experienced both being the
autonomous midwife in London,where the doctors are not your
boss.
In fact, you look after thewomen and make your decisions,
and if you think you need someassistance, you call a doctor,
and if you don't like what thedoctor's saying, you can call
his or her boss and get a secondopinion.
(16:11):
And only if you're sort ofganged up by many would you be
having to do what they'resuggesting.
If you were hoping to have an,you know, this woman was hoping
to have a natural birth.
But, um, in the private, in theprivate sector in london, you
learned that the consultant wasthe boss and whatever they said
was what was going to happen.
And that was very good trainingfor me before going to the
private and even Australianmidwifery, because you are, you
(16:35):
know, the doctors, the seniors,have the power to say what
happens in these situations.
So that was a learning curvefor me.
That midwifery is slightlydifferent in australia.
Kate Coomber (16:45):
But the midwife not being able to examine me?
Uh, because it had to be thedoctor for in in my situation.
Lorraine Evans (16:53):
Yes, it's, yeah, it's, it's, it's different and
you have to learn, you know to,to adapt, and there's different
things here that you aren'texpected to do in the uk, but
then you know and the, but youwould be really high skilled at
it.
And then there's things herethat you aren't expected to do
in the UK, but then you know,but you would be really high
skilled at it.
And then there's things herethat you are expected to do and
we're like what Hang on?
This isn't.
Please don't ask me to give anexample, but I know that there
is.
Sam Miklos (17:13):
There have been those moments along the way.
Yeah, did you come to a job ordid you?
Lorraine Evans (17:17):
Yes, I was sponsored and I came on out and,
yes, just, and I reallyembraced the far north
Queensland sort of.
I suddenly took up sailing forthe first time.
I love the fact that I could bein the swimming pool, you know,
an hour before my shift,whether that was under the stars
or under the sun.
You know, looking up throughthe palm fronds before I drove
(17:40):
my six minutes to work andparked for free, compared to the
London allow two hours.
You know planes, trains,automobiles journey of hell in
the freezing cold only to yeah,it's yeah, fairy godmother waved
a wand in terms of myAustralian.
Kate Coomber (17:57):
You know immigration so how long did you
work I guess permanently in thatrole was.
Lorraine Evans (18:03):
I would say nearly seven years in the
private and, for various reasons, it was time for me to go, and
that's when the fantasticopportunity arose that I
realized I could either go overto the public or I could take
advantage of what was lookinglike being quite a fixed
position.
Much as I really love Cairnsand I have an apartment and I
have friends and I belong todifferent social groups and two
(18:26):
gyms, and not that you'd thinkso Two gyms, two gyms there's
always going to be something Iwant to do.
Sam Miklos (18:31):
I was struggling to get to the one that I joined.
Lorraine Evans (18:34):
And I realised that through doing agency work
that I would have this sort offreedom of being able to see
Australia, and not because Iwasn't seeing that much of
Australia when on the full timework and I was also going to
have more challenges than justfollowing on.
And then, you know, seeing 20years on my retirement, still
(18:55):
the same sort of set of people,the same situations, the same
repeating.
Which is what was driving memad in London in the PA job was,
oh my goodness, am I gettingthis guy's you know kid's ski
insurance again?
Oh, are we renewing his car youknow his car registration again
?
The years were ticking by bythese repetitive events and I
just have loved that through theagency I've gone from Tasmania
(19:18):
to Thursday Island, to SouthAustralia, to Western Australia,
to South Queensland and soforth and all sort of paid for
by agency work and still beenable to maintain my home in
Cairns.
While having these experiencesand almost every contract that
I've done, I've met someonethat's remained in my life as a
(19:39):
friend, someone who, whetherit's a doctor, whether it's
another midwife, it's just beena really good way to meet people
and sort of have a or anotheragency midwife who isn't even
from where I'm working, but justis, you know, in the same
situation I think when you'returning up with a backpack of
wine, I feel like I'd be afraidto.
Sam Miklos (20:00):
My friend is expecting that wine in the sunny
days I know, so do you then goback to Cairns and do some work
there, or do you have a?
Break in between contracts.
Lorraine Evans (20:10):
I'm casual and I love this sort of freedom of
having like this sort of idea ofI know when I'll say I'll do a
contract and that's allocated,and there's usually enough work
that if I say, can I work now?
There's, you know, my agentBecky will find something for me
around then and I also, whenI'm back in Cairns, decide, you
(20:30):
know, put myself forward as acasual and I predominantly work
in the special care there andthen I I also, you know.
So I have this freedom.
And what I have loved is I'mstill such a big traveler and
I've been to the US lastSeptember, October, for a
friend's daughter's engagementparty, Then I went back for the
wedding in Texas in May and I'mjust currently booking a trip
(20:55):
that involves air miles to getme to Milan and then I go all
the way through Italy and anAmerican friend's meeting me
there, and then I'm meeting aBritish friend in Genoa and then
we're going all the way throughthe south of France until I
meet up with my family, mysister, my niece, my mother in
the south of France and then cutround in another loop to get
(21:15):
back to Italy again beforecoming back.
And the joy of working forcontracts and being casual is
that I don't have to put in aperformer and ask for time off.
I don't have to wait and see ifI'm allowed.
Well, that bargain airfare issitting there only for this
weekend only, and you know ifyou have to go through HR that
you're not gonna be able to getthat approved for 10 days
minimum.
That bargain flight, that airmiles offer is mine and I can
(21:40):
make that decision and just gofor it and that's what I've
really loved, and a lot ofsometimes when there's not a lot
of casual work.
You know where I live, Peopleare like you need to get a
full-time job, You'll feel much,and I'm like, no, I don't.
I don't want thatresponsibility again of having
and then being tied to one place.
There will always be work.
Kate Coomber (21:59):
Absolutely yes, yeah.
Sam Miklos (22:01):
There'd be loads of challenges.
I'm sure as well.
Like you've spoken a lot aboutwhat you love, about that
contract work, but work.
But you know we see so manythings where people don't love a
community they've gone to orthe team they're with maybe
isn't a great match, or you knowjust the lack of resources,
staff shortages, um staying instaff quarters yeah, some of
them are give us the warts andall.
(22:23):
Sometimes, yeah, yeah, like Ithink it's good for people,
because people ask thosequestions like what is it
actually like?
And I think it's really good tohave an insight into what's bad
, because you can be wellprepared.
Sometimes it's actually notthat bad.
Kate Coomber (22:34):
Or I've heard about that.
I think it depends on thepersonality.
I think it's not for everyone.
It's probably fair to say yes.
Lorraine Evans (22:39):
I think that one of the things is I have had
some fabulous accommodation andI have also had some.
The best is when it's so bad,when it's so bad that you have
you know you can complainwithout looking like a princess,
yeah and um, that happened on arecent contract to the and I
was, um, you know, I I turned up, it was quite late and I got to
(23:00):
the place and honestly itlooked I honestly it would look
like something from a movie setof a crack den oh wow, like
tarantino movie it was so badand so repellent.
I mean I've, I've actuallyshowed people photos where
people have actually said Ican't look anymore, I can't look
at that at all.
And so I phoned back to thehospital and there's always
(23:20):
somebody responsible and saidlook, I'm sorry, but I really
can't stay.
And they're like is it bad?
I'm like, yes, very bad.
And they said get a taxi back.
We've got backup for this.
We'll sort you out for tonight.
I can't say that's where you'regoing to be for the whole
contract, but we've gotsomething for tonight.
That isn't no.
And I showed the particular,you know nurse manager the
photos and her language waschoice two.
Kate Coomber (23:42):
She was like no way In agreement or disagree.
Oh, absolutely, Okay, that'sgood.
Lorraine Evans (23:46):
And then the manager of the unit that I met
the next day and was like I needto sorry, I am coming in, I
just need to do this, this andthis.
I've got to go into the postoffice.
Some of the requirements arethat you get working with
children in certain states, butyou can't apply until you get
there.
There's a lot of challenges andyou just have to sort of follow
through with how all thosethings work.
But I said I don't know whereI'm going to go, but I'm
(24:08):
certainly not staying in theplace.
And I showed her the photos andand she was so distressed that
she insisted I forward them toher and then sent them, I think,
to all the senior people in inthe hospital, saying this is why
we can't get agency to stay.
Um, this is, we have to dobetter than this and this room
needs to.
Sam Miklos (24:24):
You know, the mattress, the anything in this
room needs to be burnt that'sgood though that they understood
and respect the role of theagency nurse, because, it's true
, it's all those little thingsthat make you go.
I'm not going back there.
Lorraine Evans (24:35):
Yeah, and I have predominantly, really, either
I've been very lucky or that Ihave had good experiences on the
whole.
Sometimes, yes, it can get tothe point where you think this
isn't actually, there's notenough of us here.
There's a sudden sickness andthen somebody else doesn't turn
up for an you know becauseagency.
You know they're expectingpeople and then I don't know,
(24:57):
maybe they had another offer orsomething or changed their mind,
and then everyone's counting onsomeone turning up and you know
it can get crazy, which on theone hand, can be fabulous
because you end up with overtimeand who doesn't love a bit of
overtime and the bank balancebut also a little bit
overwhelming when you'resuddenly expected to do shift
after shift after shift withouta break, as you say, in these
(25:19):
areas where you know sometimesyou're waiting on the you know
RFDS to come help and there'sonly, you know, so many planes
and there's many more jobs andyou're on a wait list and you're
just trying to maintain asituation where you wait for
your information that the planesat the airport and then you get
to do the sort of fun ride inthe ambulance with the ambos and
(25:41):
the blue light to the airportand do the handover on the
tarmac, sometimes in the drivingrain, and you sort of you know
it has almost a sort of you knowa quality of yes, I'm very glad
that I left the UK and I'm notstill trudging two hours to a
job and repeat, repeat, repeat,repeat, repeat of the day before
.
Sam Miklos (26:01):
No day would ever be the same Because you have to
live it.
Was there a?
Lorraine Evans (26:05):
security guard helping one of the birds.
No, it was just that.
It was just.
Actually, I was quitedistressed that there wasn't
enough backup.
I was quite distressed thatthere wasn't enough backup and I
actually made a quiteinappropriate joke that the only
backup was that one of thesecurity guards once saw an
episode of One Born Every Minute, and that was up in history.
Kate Coomber (26:18):
I mean the whole area that you practice in.
You know having babies isunpredictable.
Absolutely so if you're in amore rural area.
I know that they have things inplace to to move women to maybe
a larger hospital if it is acomplex pregnancy or things like
that.
But things happen, yeah, theydo.
They do Routine pregnancy andthey happen at once.
(26:40):
They happen at once.
Lorraine Evans (26:41):
You know the worst is the lull.
Once you've had, in remoteareas, sort of seven plus days
with no deliveries and no drama,you know it's coming and it's
coming at once every it's allgoing to happen.
Bang, bang, bang.
It's going to be people tryingto deliver in the corridor
because all the births, you knowyour two or three birth suites
are full and there's.
(27:02):
You know this is it.
It happens like that, which Iquite like, that rush, and I
also then quite like thoseperiods of quiet where you can
sort of get to know the otherpeople that you're working with.
And you know that's when allthe checks are done and
everything's sorted for, readyfor the.
You know you're almostpreparing for that that tsunami
of women through the door whichwill happen.
Sam Miklos (27:23):
I guess I was just gonna say I feel like last time
we talked about this, that onebirth that's really affected you
, or the one that's been, youknow, a particularly challenging
one that's gone okay in the end.
Is there any of those?
Lorraine Evans (27:38):
I think I don't know, even because there's been
several, I think, being in avery, very remote area once and
having a late and being on nightshift as the only midwife in
the hospital, and suddenly, youknow, someone has been admitted
through ED and it's such a smallhospital that they haven't
phoned to tell me.
She's just appeared from EDthrough the doors into my
(27:59):
section and I can tell the way,the way she's walking, that
she's in labor, she's withanother lady and I'm thinking,
well, at least she looks quitelarge.
So because I have a list of whowe're expecting, I know she's
not one of them because I've metthem in the last week and you
know, as MGP you get to know thewomen and I'm like I don't
recognize this woman, but she'sgot, she's quite large, so one
(28:21):
hopes that she's not too prem.
But unfortunately it turned outthat it was 26 week, twins on
board and her waters had goneand.
But we actually handled itreally really well and um, I say
we, I mean I, I phoned thecavalry and got everyone in and
luckily everyone had their phoneon and, um, you know the two
(28:43):
anesthetists for the two twins,um, two, you know two, two
obstetricians, all the midwiveswe could get hold of and and we
actually had more time than wethought we had probably almost
three hours from her admissionto her delivery of those very
premature twins.
And we're on telehealth to amajor hospital where they're all
(29:06):
watching us and givingdirection.
Because it was so remote, theyneeded to see that the babies
were born alive before they putinto place the transfer, because
they'd turn up and we didn'thave success and so there was a
lot of time of keeping thosebabies going before they were
able to be transferred.
But that was fantastic and itwas close enough to where I
(29:30):
lived that I was able to seethat lady after she had gone
further afield than where I liveand then came back to there,
and then I was able to be therewhen she was discharged with
those twins.
So eventually, you know, itwouldn't be no better term.
So a full, many weeks, moneymonths after, and then, because
the world of midwifery is sosmall in Australia, that when I
(29:52):
was on my last placement just inSeptember on the other side of
Australia, I was asked to mentora student in birth suite and I
said hello, I'm you know, I'myou know.
And she said of course.
She said don't you remember me?
I was there when the twins wereborn, and so she and she was
now in her final year of.
I was like I don't rememberanything about the when the
(30:12):
twins were born, and so she andshe was now in her final year of
.
I was like I don't rememberanything about the night the
twins were born but yes, and ofcourse I recognized it then, but
out of the absolute, out ofcontext of where we were, so,
yeah, so things have overlapped,like that.
And when you do a midwifery jobas a contract, even if you've
never met the other midwivesthere, if you, you know, because
(30:33):
I'm of a Facebook age yes, Ithink it's meant for the only
for the over 40s.
Sam Miklos (30:39):
Yes, we are in that group.
Lorraine Evans (30:41):
Yes, If you go on, you will always and put in
the new person that you've justmet on the contract.
Even they will have friendsthat you know there's such a
small community of midwives.
So you'll be able to say, oh,you know so and so, yes, I met
them on that contract and soyou're able to sort of make all
those connections that way butwhere's the craziest place
(31:01):
you've delivered a baby?
Sam Miklos (31:02):
does it mean anywhere you go?
Lorraine Evans (31:04):
god, that was a bit well, I think those, you
know those twins there were.
That was pretty hairy, I mean.
Kate Coomber (31:11):
Ever not in a hospital.
Lorraine Evans (31:13):
Well, I did In London you train a lot with the
home births and I can't claimthis is my own, but I remember,
in London too, that a frienddelivered a woman in the Chelsea
and Westminster Hospital liftsand she got onto her knees and
she said I had just.
She had a wool coat on.
(31:34):
Coming just back from her breakand she said I couldn't believe
it, I had it dry cleaned lastweek and then of course
everything had run up her armsfrom delivering this baby on her
knees and the woman standing inthe lift.
Sam Miklos (31:44):
Yes, Of all the hospital lifts, though in London
, I feel that would haveprobably been one of the nicer
ones but they never come whenyou want them.
Lorraine Evans (31:51):
She might have been there a week trying to get
up there.
Sam Miklos (31:56):
You know you talked before about the telehealth
support and you know thinkingabout someone who's considering
going out to a remote orregional area.
Do you feel supported enoughwhen those scenarios happen?
Lorraine Evans (32:06):
and you are talking to someone in telehealth
, I think yes, so the telehealthsituation is mainly doctor to
doctor in that sense, or, Ithink, nurse, not midwife.
So sometimes it might be anobstetric situation on, say, a
small island up at the top ofAustralia where those very
(32:26):
isolated nurses are suddenlyfaced with an obstetric
situation and then they might beon telehealth to us directing
and I'm trying to talk a nursethrough how to find a fetal
heart on the lady that she'swith and things like that.
But I think that you know where, wherever I have been placed,
(32:47):
through Cornerstone as well, Ihave always had the support of
an on-call doctor.
Through Cornerstone as well, Ihave always had the support of
an on-call doctor and most ofthem are, you know, within 10,
15 minutes and they've gotdifferent, as always, different
personalities and differentdegrees of involvement.
So there's been some, you know,consultants on some projects
(33:09):
that want to know wake me up inthe middle of the night, tell me
if there's somebody in labour.
And when they're at secondstage, about to have a baby, I
want to know, I want to be inthe hospital, so if something
goes wrong I'm right there.
Um.
To other doctors who say um,you know well, if your midwives,
you know what you're doing.
Don't wake me up and tell meyou're having a baby.
That's your job.
Um, only call me if there's aproblem, I'll be there.
So it just depends.
And it's the same hospital.
(33:29):
It just depends who's on callwhich doctors at that point.
And that's the thing with withcontracts.
And I meet other agencymidwives on my travels and they
always are surprised that I'm onmy second or third tour of duty
of that place and they're likeI never go back.
You always think it's going tobe, but just accept your first
contract and keep moving,because when you go back things
have changed.
(33:49):
There's different management ordifferent doctors or different
people working and you know youhad such a great time and then
you can lose that sort of memoryof that if you don't have that
repeat time.
But you know, on the whole Ihave enjoyed going back and
there's something, there'ssomething nice about being asked
to go back and it's sort of.
Kate Coomber (34:07):
I think, um, it clearly really suits you this
whole traveling locum lifestyle,and I think it sounds like
you've got to be a really goodcommunicator to make it work.
Because even understandingthose nuances, when you get to a
contract of how am I going tocommunicate with this doctor,
how would they like us?
You know, how will theycommunicate with us, and vice
versa that's a skill in itself,isn't it?
(34:27):
To be able to understand and togive the time to get to know,
that hospital.
Lorraine Evans (34:32):
I think you know that they the places where
we're going.
They're quite used to agencystaff as well and they even have
some of them a little guide toto the doctors, you know exactly
, and it's not just their glovesize, yeah, yeah, you know what
to look out for for them, youknow so do you have a favorite
(34:53):
place?
Kate Coomber (34:54):
I'm just about to ask that.
Sam Miklos (34:55):
Oh my god, it's interesting.
I've never actually thoughtabout not going back to the same
place to ruin the memories?
Lorraine Evans (35:01):
yeah, I really agree with that.
Sam Miklos (35:03):
Now I can I'm not not for asian go back to the
same place multiple times.
Kate Coomber (35:06):
Yeah, we should be promoting that.
Lorraine Evans (35:07):
But even if you did have a less pleasant
experience that first time, itcould be completely different
another time yes and they don'trule anything out is maybe the
message there Exactly, and Ithink, taking enough with for me
, I never travel light, takingenough of your own things to not
so that you can prepare food oryou know.
Sam Miklos (35:29):
Yeah, what's in your before we get to favorites like
what's in your before you getto favorites like what's in your
suitcase that you take a pillow, because if you end up with a
hospital plastic pillow, you'regoing to be distressed by that.
Lorraine Evans (35:39):
Um, if I, you know, I try and find out what
size bed I'm getting.
So if and if possible, I put ina extra set of linen.
So just be sure that you've gotsomething that's clean, um,
when you first arrive, orsomething that you know is of a
decent quality.
But then I'm absolutely amassive op shopper and most
places that I've worked a fewexceptions, but most places have
(36:01):
an op shop and I'm on the firstday as I can, my first day and
then I'm like you know what, I'mnot going to be frustrated by
the fact that I can't cookbecause somebody's used the pan
and hasn't washed it up.
But you can't take sauce, bigfrying pans and all of these
sorts of equipment with you.
So I just go down the op shopand shell out a few essentials,
(36:21):
after having checked out what'sin the kitchen and sort of like
OK, now I know I can do thisquite easily and that's going to
be that, and then I donate themeither back to the op shop or
to the kitchen when I go andthat sort of works out too.
And just, yeah, I mean it'shaving that flexibility to go
somewhere new and and not be.
And I had some great advicewhen I went to America for
(36:44):
university for that year abroadand the professor said something
like it'd be very easy when yougo somewhere that's similar to
where you are and be veryfrustrated by the differences.
Because you know what do youmean?
Go from England to America?
What do you mean?
You have to pay for banking,which at that time you did in
the States and not in the UK.
What do you mean?
This closes on a Friday, whatdo you mean?
(37:06):
And you're very like.
This place is crazy.
What's wrong with these people?
Whereas you were went from theUK to Africa, you'd be like, oh,
things are closed on Friday.
Well, that's Africa, yes.
And it's like having theattitude of just stop comparing.
It's different.
And just because it there's somany similarities, don't just
accept.
Sam Miklos (37:23):
There's going to be differences between where you go
and embrace them, I guess, andyou're there for difference,
right?
Kate Coomber (37:28):
yeah, you don't go to different countries and
different places in hope thatit's all the same.
Lorraine Evans (37:32):
No, otherwise you just stay home exactly, and
one of the great things that Ifound is um and that's this is
varied from place to place ishow involved the um, the people
that do live there, or the otheragency, in terms of you know,
one of them might have a car umis how interested they are in
helping you sightsee or invitingyou to their homes or, you know
(37:54):
, having you… Welcoming you intothe community and allowing you
to enjoy it.
Sam Miklos (37:58):
Because do you, on your days off, do you explore?
Lorraine Evans (38:02):
always I try to.
I try to see as much aspossible and that depends
because, of course, somecontracts come with a car.
As technology advances, it'sbecoming more restrictive
because they can see on theirGPS where you've been, and it
shouldn't be Dan Murphy's, I wasthinking, because you can't do
your hobby of wine judgingonline really.
Sam Miklos (38:23):
So have you got other hobbies that you're taking
there?
Lorraine Evans (38:25):
So, yes, tasmania was fantastic, but it's
probably not a good look tohave the health car outside the
vineyard.
So, yes, sometimes you have tobe nice, could be an emergency.
I was just going to say unlessyou're delivering a baby?
Sam Miklos (38:37):
Yes, exactly.
Lorraine Evans (38:38):
Don't mind me.
No, I think.
Yes, I try to play and there'salways somebody.
Even on my last very shortcontract, there was a lovely
lady that took me out to see afantastic beach and she had a
huge four-wheel drive and wedrove over the top of these
dunes and came down to this, youknow, surreal clear blue water
(39:02):
and white crystal.
You know, crystal, white sand.
And I was like, is this real?
It's so insane.
And um, and then we got in.
There was a sort of an inletand I said, but there's no crocs
.
And she said, said, well, we'dbe really unlucky.
I'm like, yes, we would be.
Sam Miklos (39:18):
Where's your favorite location been?
Are you top three?
Lorraine Evans (39:21):
You see, it's all about the people, as I say.
So, you know, and for differentreasons.
And so, like I've met one of myvery good friends when I was in
Rockhampton, and you know,unless you're really into the
state, rockhampton has got a lotto learn from.
Rockhampton yeah, there you go,but you know it's not like a
top, but then I did have afantastic trip from.
(39:43):
There's a lot to see from there.
Kate Coomber (39:45):
Yeah, I went to the Keppel Islands for example.
Lorraine Evans (39:48):
And also they have Yippoon the wags the
wednesday afternoon, guys andgirls sailing.
So I also took up sailing so Iwas able to do some sailing on
um when I was announcingrockhampton and so you know, and
there's always some festivaland I tend to encourage the
other staff to sign up for a pubquiz.
I love a pub quiz and I try toalso make that a mix of doctors
(40:11):
as well as midwives and nurses,which doesn't always go down
well initially, but then when wewin it does, because we've got
a much broader sense of ages andsexes and you know knowledge,
you know interests to be able towin.
So yeah, I've sort of haveenjoyed that aspect of it.
And you know, in Tasmania, Imean, who can't love Tasmania,
(40:32):
except it's cold?
Sam Miklos (40:33):
Yeah.
Lorraine Evans (40:34):
But in terms of the food and the drink and you
know, and I've sort of lovedbeing part of a remote island
experience up in Thursday Island, because that is also pretty
unique and not something that Iwould want to do, I wouldn't
want to move there and have allthe inconveniences of living
that they, you know that, comewith that, particularly as a,
(40:54):
you know, single woman, being upthere alone, very limited, but
how fantastic to do that for,you know, two months or a few
weeks, even just just very luckyto have that opportunity and is
there any way still on yourbucket list?
Oh plenty, south Australia, farmore.
I think I'd like to seeKangaroo Island and you know I
(41:16):
remember I hadn't reallyconsidered.
I think South Australia is likesort of they're keeping it in
the same way that Australians asthe whole are trying to put off
the rest of the world the talesof dangerous creatures that
really aren't part of oureveryday life at all.
I still think South Australia'sgot their little curtains drawn
and like don't notice, we'refantastic.
Because I remember going downfor actually a sad reason, to
(41:38):
see a friend who had terminalcancer and to say goodbye, but
then phoning my agent here atCornerstone to say, do you do
work here?
You know when I was in Adelaide, do you do work down here?
This is have you seen thesebeaches?
Because, know, when I was inAdelaide, do you do work down
here?
Have you seen these beaches?
Because my agent's also fromthe UK.
It's like the Caribbean downhere.
What's going on?
Why haven't you told us aboutthis?
(41:59):
Why isn't everybody in SouthAustralia?
Well, the Great Whites might beone reason, but then you can
argue for the creatures anywhere.
So, yeah, I think there's moreto see in South Australia.
So, yeah, I think there's moreto see in South Australia.
It's a shame that New SouthWales doesn't have fantastic
rates, because I think there'splenty there.
And I'd love to sort of tie thatin with a festival.
Who wouldn't want to go?
Sam Miklos (42:18):
you know to Before they stop being a thing.
I've got to come back to thesingle woman thing Right Now.
We've talked about this onanother podcast with another
single lady, and how do you know?
Kate Coomber (42:29):
traveling around who you know, then found someone
, so maybe we had something todo with that.
Oh, did we?
Sam Miklos (42:34):
yes, well, well, yeah, being out on contract in
these small communities it canhave its moments.
Lorraine Evans (42:40):
okay, there can be fun, and there also you have
to be so careful when it's sotiny.
If you were to go on any of theonline apps, it's going to be
immediately obvious you're goingto see it and then you're going
to see them the next day in thehospital.
So very careful there.
But no, there's an opportunity,I think, as a single person, to
have you know widen.
(43:00):
You know some of the places I'dsay are less of a gene pool and
more of a sort of a murkypuddle, and then other places
you might just hit lucky, yeah.
Or, of course, you knowtravelling on your way or meet
someone, and of course you knowI'd love for dating to go back
to the more organic andintroductions.
(43:21):
But of course, by doing thesecontracts, I am meeting more
people from different places whoare inviting me to go visit.
Kate Coomber (43:28):
And I think when you're in these smaller
communities they tend to do alot of things you know from
those regional the quizzes andthe community events.
Lorraine Evans (43:39):
There's probably less people on the app, so it's
more of an organic experience.
Well, exactly Some of thesmaller places.
So you know there was a muchbigger disparity between
doctors' pay and nurses' pay inthe UK, and so doctors at the
end of most shifts would saycome on out for a drink.
You know, that was terrible.
Let's all go out for a drinkand put their card behind the
bar.
(43:59):
And that has never happened,you know, in Australia.
But I think it's because nursesaren't starving here.
If I were you now, once yourepisode goes live the next
doctor you're working with willsend it to them and be like you
need to pop the car behind thebar.
But I think, because they werefully aware Back home, you know,
and I think, unfortunatelybecause they haven't increased
(44:21):
the salaries back there for solong, that some, you know, you
qualify for food stamps as anurse.
Wow, it's absolutely ridiculous.
Whereas here, of course, andparticularly in agency work, you
know, you are given, you know,a very decent wage to live on.
So the idea is that the doctorshouldn't have to cover all the
drinks.
But in these smaller and youactually don't see them outside
(44:41):
of work unless you convince themto go to a quiz, but but in
these smaller areas there's onlythe one pub anyway.
So you will get to sort ofsocialize.
You will be drunkenly singingkaraoke with, you know, with
everybody from the hospital,from you know from, from
cleaning and catering staff, allthe way up to the, you know,
the, the head of the hospital,because that's the place to go.
(45:02):
And so that is sort of anotherinteresting aspect of getting
you know being fully part of thehealthcare.
Sam Miklos (45:08):
yeah, what would you ?
You know, when you look back onthe highlight reels of all
these years of locuming, isthere a memory like the best
memory that you think, thatreally makes you laugh and
brings a smile to your face?
Lorraine Evans (45:20):
I know you're fishing because you know this
story.
Sam Miklos (45:24):
That's the time that I that is so unlike you.
Did you need a refill?
Lorraine Evans (45:27):
You fill that and I'll fill it, so I did have
a little incident, I guess,where I was.
I just had a little fling withone of the rescue team the
helicopter rescue team and hehad come to say goodbye at the
airport and unfortunately therewas an incident at the airport
(45:48):
where somebody had collapsed andso we of course got our also
got involved while waiting forthe ambulance and um, and we had
kept our situation quite secretand um.
But then we were both involvedin this incident doctors
arriving, cannulations happeningwith you know, defibs, no, you
know it's all going on.
And then I suddenly realizedactually my plane's going, and
(46:09):
so across the patient, we sortof lent over the poor man and he
kissed me goodbye, and then Istood up and ran for my plane
and everybody else that wasinvolved, who I also knew from,
you know, from this very smallcommunity, were like what just
happened, that's a movie waitingto happen.
Sam Miklos (46:26):
Is this the way we end these situations now?
Yes, exactly.
Lorraine Evans (46:29):
And he wasn't in uniform or anything, so he was
just a random man at the airport.
And then they were like, oh, Iknow who he is, oh, my god, you
would have been to find them allthere.
You would have been like what Iknow and the poor man
underneath us would be like.
What are you doing?
Sam Miklos (46:43):
It's not so good.
Me me, Focus on me.
Lorraine Evans (46:47):
But he was fine and very stable.
At that point I bet, yeah, youwere like yep, sorted, let's do
it.
Goodbye Back onto me.
Sam Miklos (46:54):
You know, just before we wrap up, you've said
that you know, locum work bringssoul to your life.
What is it about the work?
Lorraine Evans (47:08):
I think it is that you, you know that you're
not in the rut, that you dogenuinely get to go to a place
and you have the opportunity tomeet so many, so many people.
And sometimes it can be quite,quite difficult because they you
know, some people might not bethrilled with the healthcare
situation or not want to bethere at all, and you get to
have an opportunity to treatpeople with the utmost kindness
(47:28):
and respect, and maybe just noteverybody, but some people turn
a situation around to a pointwhere someone who really didn't
want to be there, really wasquite angry, upset on their
arrival, really was facing atricky situation with the social
services or something else fromactually trusting you, and now
suddenly maybe turning up formore appointments or
(47:51):
understanding what the drug testis for, and that we're trying
to prove that you're not, notprove that you are, that this is
going to help you.
You know something being able toin, even in a short time,
sometimes by just, you know,being open and respectful, have
an opportunity to make adifference, and I think you can,
of course, do that in in oneplace as well.
(48:12):
But I think it's almost like afresh face and look, I don't
know what I'm doing here, but Iactually just want to help you.
Kate Coomber (48:18):
is is a unique a position to be in you know it
sounds like your role in Londonhelping women in the shelter,
has really lent itself sobeautifully to this?
Lorraine Evans (48:27):
That actually could well be because, yes, I
get very cross when people andwe all judge.
I even have a shirt that afriend gave me which said
silently judging you.
And then on the back it saysand now I'm talking about you,
which is bad, but we're alljudgy.
But you know, when you knowthat people don't choose their
(48:50):
life path sometimes and they'vehad very different choices or
opportunities, and I know thatI'm have been really fortunate
with my life of travel and myopportunities, my sort of stable
family background and I've justbeen.
All the cards dealt have been.
I've been very lucky hand andother people have not.
They've ended up with a load ofyou know, just a hand that
(49:12):
doesn't win them anything.
And so, to try not to judge,and I get very cross even when
people say can you believe thatthis woman whose baby she's got
gestational diabetes and she'seating a king size Mars bar now,
and you know?
And now the baby's?
You know this and all thesepeople, and I'm like you know
what, if eating a healthy dietwas that easy, we'd all be
(49:32):
supermodels, yeah, and we don'tknow anything about why this
woman is eating like this, and Ithink we can just back off with
the rolling of the eyes andactually just see, well, what
can we do today?
And I even had an anesthetistonce tell a woman in labor who
was requesting an epidural well,this is going to be very
(49:52):
difficult as you're so fat, ohmy gosh.
And I got very annoyed with himand I said not helpful,
actually, because you can't doanything about that right now,
except you've upset her.
So maybe, um, you know, justunnecessary, unnecessary abuse,
you know a bit more compassion.
Kate Coomber (50:10):
Yes, exactly.
Lorraine Evans (50:12):
Um, just just say nothing.
You know that whole.
If you can't say something kindof say nothing at all but um,
yeah, that is what I think isthe sort of the soul element of
it, maybe, if that's what youquoted me and I said at one
point.
But just yeah, I like thisopportunity to and I sometimes
maybe talk too much to peopleand I'm still, you know, writing
my notes later because I'veactually, but it's about seeing
(50:34):
people, isn't it?
It's about, you know, not justnext.
Kate Coomber (50:38):
And you're seeing people in quite a vulnerable
state.
You know like going having ababy is not a straightforward,
obvious process that people justknow what to do like you know
it's you'd rather.
Sam Miklos (50:48):
You'd rather have a midwife that's present and
talking to you than writing thenotes and you're wondering
what's your?
Kate Coomber (50:53):
what's your writing?
Are we all good over here?
Lorraine Evans (50:55):
yeah, people would feel lucky to have you in
the room with them I think, butI think that I would say you
know, not everyone's cup of tea.
I think I was given a veryhelpful advice from one of the
consultants that colourfulpeople are remembered and you
know and appreciated by many,but disliked by a few because
(51:16):
you're too bright and that's notbright intelligence, it's just
too much Like.
You know I'm not their personand that's fine too, because you
know you have to have the skinlike a rhinoceros if you're
going to be sort of.
Kate Coomber (51:27):
you know, I saw you're also not everyone's cup
of tea, but it's because you'rea glass of champagne.
Sam Miklos (51:33):
Yes, when you said that, you looked at me and I was
like am I not everyone's cup of?
Tea Too much, we can talk aboutit Too much Did you say that
she just looked at me.
I think we're both too much andcan relate.
Love it yeah.
Kate Coomber (51:45):
Thank you so much.
You're very welcome.
It's been so wonderful to spendmore time with you today.
With this season, we'redonating to a charity of your
choice.
Where should we raise someawareness today?
Lorraine Evans (51:57):
Well, I would like the donation to go back to
Cairns, to the public hospitalthere, to the Far North
Queensland.
Foundation because they arehelping provide equipment for
the hospital that's not on thissort of budget for Queensland
Health but helps people who livethere get treatment up there
without having to come down toBrisbane, for example, for
(52:22):
example, and be separated fromthe support networks that they
would normally have in what is,for example, cancer or major
surgery situations.
So that's sort of a way I thinkthat would be a nice way to
donate.
Yeah, fantastic, Thank you.
Sam Miklos (52:34):
Lorraine, thank you so much.
I am so glad that the techdidn't work last time Me too.
Kate Coomber (52:38):
Oh, I thought you were saying now no.
Oh, my God, I'm so sorry aboutthat.
Lord, imagine if it doesn't.
Sam Miklos (52:45):
But just, it's so nice to have you in this space
and you know you are just aphenomenal midwife and hearing
your stories, there were so manythings.
I mean, we didn't even get toBerlin, like so much that I want
to.
I feel like we need like aseason three.
We need to get you back again.
But look, it's been a joytalking to you.
Thank you for sharing yourstories and just thank you for
(53:05):
being you.
You've just been incredible anda great advocate along all of
the years that you've worked forus.
Lorraine Evans (53:10):
Thank you.
Thanks so much Thank you.
Sam Miklos (53:12):
Cheers.
Thanks for tuning into it.
Takes Heart.
Kate Coomber (53:17):
If you love this episode, subscribe, leave a
review or share it with a friend, and if you know someone with a
great story in healthcare, getin touch.
Follow us on socials for allthe behind-the-scenes fun, and
we'll see you next time.
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