A HOSPITAL receptionist who went beyond the call of duty and helped deliver a baby said she was “happy to help”.

Shareefa La’Force rushed to help when expectant mother Mbu Mbasia arrived at The Whittington Hospital on on Wednesday, January 4, in labour.

Ms La'Force, who works on the hospital's main reception desk, went to Ms Mbasia's taxi with a wheelchair as no porter were available, but had to go beyond the call of duty when she saw what was happening.

She said: “I went out there to help the lady into a wheelchair, but it became apparent quite quickly that I would have to do more than that.

“I climbed into the cab and tried to calm the lady down. The baby's head and shoulders were showing so I stayed with her until the hospital's emergency team came down and took the mother and baby in.”

Ms La'Force, who is not medically trained and has worked at the hospital, in Magdala Avenue, Archway, for the past four years, said she was in the taxi for about 20 minutes, but it felt like much longer.

She was called to action when Ms Mbasia's brother rushed into the hospital to get help.

She said: “I just did what I thought was best. I've worked here for four years and I've never had anything like this before.

“It felt like we were there forever, but I was happy to help and happy when the emergency team came to take over.”

Ms Mbasia, from Edmonton, gave birth to baby boy Ethan shortly afterwards. The hospital said both mother and child are “healthy and well”.