Obituary: Dora Opoku

Dora Opoku

1948-2010

Midwife and educationalist

Dora Kwartiorkor Opoku, who has died of cancer aged 62, was a midwife with a special interest in mothers with complex needs and those who spoke little or no English.

Dora was born in Accra, Ghana. She trained as a nurse at Maryfield Hospital in Dundee from 1967 to 1970, and as a midwife at the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow.

In the early 1980s she was a midwife teacher at St Thomas' Hospital, London. When the Royal London reopened its school of midwifery in 1984, Dora was appointed senior midwife teacher.

She went on to become head of the department of midwifery and child health at the school of community and health sciences at City University, London, in 1995.

Dora played a significant role in the development of midwifery education in London. She supported a training programme in the East End for Bengali-speaking maternity aid workers, which proved a great success.

She also advised the UK Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, helping to develop its code of professional conduct.

Consultant midwife Yana Richens says: 'Dora was inspirational. She cared about everyone. You cannot remember Dora without a smile on your face.'

In 2004 Dora was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to midwifery education. Last year she was made a fellow of the Royal College of Midwives and City University made her its first emeritus fellow.

Dora enjoyed opera and ballet, was a Chelsea football supporter, and had a keen fashion sense. She wore a sensational hat when she received her OBE at Buckingham Palace .