A FLIXTON woman who twice won a ‘midwife of the year’ award has died.

Helen Bailey, who was 53, died of breast cancer at Wythenshawe Hospital among family and colleagues on January 4.

She leaves behind her husband Steven, daughter Katie, 23 and twins David and Rose, 21.

Her sister, Julie Campion, said she felt the high grade midwife should be recognised for all ‘the wonderful work she did’ for her patients.

Helen worked at Trafford General Hospital for many years and later at Wythenshawe Hospital.

“People whose babies she’d delivered two years ago would come up to her and tell her how much she’d helped them, she was known as the lovely midwife,” said Julie.

Helen, who lived with her family on Beechwood Avenue, first developed breast cancer in 2008 but managed to recover and became ‘very strong’ on the issue according to Julie and thereafter was always encouraging other women to get screened.

However, the cancer returned in 2013 and she died at the beginning of 2014.

Julie said that while the entire family is ‘devastated’ by their loss, they have been overwhelmed by the glowing tributes they have received to Helen since her death.

“We were all with her when she died, even some of her colleagues,” said Julie.

“The amount of midwives who were coming over and telling us how wonderful she was, we were just completely astounded by the reaction.”