A former Falmouth Packet reporter, and the daughter of former MP David Mudd, has been shortlisted for a major national award in recognition of a remarkable career change that has led to thousands of people achieving a peaceful end to their lives.

Felicity Warner, an old girl of Falmouth School, was with the Packet from 1977 to 1978 ahead of a 20-year journalism career that included writing about health for the Daily Mail, Express and Sunday Times.

In 2008 she launched the Soul Midwives School and the international Soul Midwifery movement. Soul Midwives are "holistic and spiritual companions" to the dying and their families and offer their skills within hospitals, care homes, hospices and in the community.

Felicity, who started her end of life mission as a hospice volunteer, pioneered the idea of Soul Midwives after working with hundreds of dying patients. Alongside medical treatment, she could see how much people at the end of life benefited from gentle, tender, loving care, companionship and deep listening. Soul Midwifery combines holistic and spiritual approaches to honour the “whole” person.

There are now over 600 Soul Midwives in the UK all trained at Felicity's school in Dorset. Now Felicity has been shortlisted for the End of Life Care Champion title in the national Council of Palliative Care awards. The winners will be announced at the House of Lords this week.

“Soul Midwives regard every dying person in their care as if he or she is the most important person in the world," said Felicity. "All are cared for as if they are a cherished friend or family member. A Soul Midwife has the skills, time and specialist knowledge of the dying process to make a huge difference at the end of life.

"We offer a range of gentle therapies to soothe and reassure, and are skilled advocates and advisors. We are non-denominational in our pastoral support, and encourage deep conversation with love and dignity. Our work starts from point of diagnosis and continues until the final day of life, encouraging living fully until the end.”