“Research is to see what everybody has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.” - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
In 1997, Liverpool Women’s opened the first of its kind midwifery research department with the aim of improving care provided to women in the maternity services.
On the 20th anniversary of the midwifery research department, we would like to thank all of the staff and women who have been involved in our trials over the years; we couldn’t have done it without your help and support!
The Midwifery research department was set up by our own Tina Lavender in 1997 (now Dame Professor Lavender), together with midwives specialising in midwifery research who through the years have included; Lorna Wood, Lesley Briscoe, Sue Thompson, Gillian Houghton, Heather Longworth, Angela Kerrigan, Carol Bedwell, Bea Fung, Anne Hirrell, Lyndsey Donnison, Anne Spofforth, Nell Shore, Sarah Mcdonald, Georgina Keaney, to name a few. Additionally, huge thanks to Ediri O’Brien who was our longstanding research assistant; and to Jan Mayer, admin support.
The midwifery research department changed track in 2008 and focussed on studies covered by the research portfolio which has covered many further pregnancy related areas; hypertension & pre-eclampsia, obstetric haemorrhage, fetal monitoring, epilepsy, mental health, fetal genetics, preterm birth, and the list goes on…
Many of these studies have already changed practice and enhanced the care we provide to women. Maternity Assist was, in it’s naissance a piece of research, which is now a fully-fledged service that provides online support and information for women, exclusive to LWH, and is the envy of many providers! The BASICS trolley, which originated at LWH, enables newborn resuscitation directly at the mothers’ bedside and is now being implemented in hospitals throughout the country. As well as our own research, here at LWH we provide a large contribution to national and international studies on the research portfolio. Recently, one such study, the WOMAN trial has found that the use of Tranexamic acid, a relatively cheap drug, could potentially save the lives of 1 in 3 women in the instance of obstetric haemorrhage.
Each week, this new series will summarise some of the studies that are currently taking place at Liverpool Women’s. Keep an eye on this column in the coming weeks to keep updated with the latest trials.
The maternity research team are based in Antenatal clinic and are reachable on extension: 4355/1039. Mobile: 07594559618, Email: research.midwives@lwh.nhs.uk