Appointed Governors

Information to follow.

What were your reasons for becoming a Governor?

Having had a substantial and varied career in a number of areas across midwifery/maternity and child health, and having worked at LWH for 4 years as a specialist midwife and team leader, when I was offered the opportunity to put my name forward as a representative for HEI’s I jumped at the chance.   I had been a staff governor for midwifery previously, and had seen the positive and powerful impact and contribution that governors can make to the organisation.   The chance to make a contribution and a difference to a special and unique Women’s Foundation Trust in the heart of Liverpool was also a contributing factor.  

What is your background and experience?

Midwifery is my second career – previously I have trained and worked in nature conservation, holding a wide variety of roles, but my personal experience of childbearing with my first child led me to my midwifery training which I undertook at Manchester University.   Following successful completion of my degree I worked in Manchester and rotated through all areas of clinical midwifery practice before taking up a senior post as a specialist midwife at LWH – focussing on vulnerable women and families and public health.   I became the team leader for a group of specialist midwives, before moving on to take up a post as senior midwifery lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, where I held a variety of roles.   During this time I also gained some international experience and for 3 years co-led and led student nurse and midwife elective experiences to Uganda.   In 2021 an opportunity arose to become Associate Head of Midwifery Education and fulfil the statutory role of Lead Midwife for Education (LME) at Edge Hill University, and I then was promoted to my current post as Head of Women’s and Children’s Health in the same year.   I manage a department which spans all education and programmes covering Child Nursing and midwifery, including CPD.   I am also a part time PhD student at LJMU – currently writing up my thesis on unknown childbearing, and have recently had book chapter published on communication in public health midwifery, and am involved in some smaller research projects.   I am involved in various committees within School, Faculty and Institution including Fitness to Practice, Employability, validation of Programmes and Quality and have recently completed the EHU First Ascent leadership course.   I am married to Paul, and have two children one of whom is a mental health nurse educator, and my other child who is volunteering with our local church.

What are you passionate about?

Using my knowledge, skills and experience to positive effect, being a role model and increasing awareness of the challenges and importance of midwifery, education and women’s health.   Supporting staff development in a compassionate way, to improve the experiences of others including students and the women and families that we serve.   As a registered midwife to uphold the values of the NMC Code and encourage the development of professional behaviours, improving the quality and safety of care.

What were your reasons for becoming a Governor?

In 2015, my baby was born at LWH at 32 weeks, weighing 3lb 10oz, and for the next 4 weeks he resided in the neo-natal unit, graduating all the way through from the NICU to the nursery, leaving on 18th December 2015. I have never in the years that followed forgotten how lucky we were to have such an amazing team just a few miles down the road and I will do everything I can to ensure its ethos and services continue strongly for future generations.

What is your background and experience?

I’ve spent the last decade working in Liverpool’s health and social care sector, crossing paths, building partnerships, and getting to know a wide variety of grassroots, third sector and public sector organisations. These days I work directly with a range of charity clients; I also work with a local public service redesign organisation. I spend my days helping the third sector, NHS organisations and Local Authorities to work together - helping them to focus on the needs and wants of the people receiving their support. I believe the third sector has a huge role to play in the delivery of great NHS services, we just need to get better at joining things up and get more creative when we’re thinking about our patient journeys. I know that Liverpool Women’s is an amazing hospital with a team who want great things for the women they serve and I’m excited to support the Board and staff team to think more about the work these sectors do together.

What are you passionate about?

The focus of LWH’s strategy is to ‘ensure the health needs of the population served by the Trust are full considered’. I truly believe that listening to people’s challenges, thoughts and ideas is key, not only to improve quality but also to make limited funds have the biggest impact. So often health and care services are built that aren’t quite right for the person at the end of them, I’m passionate about working with the organisations embedded in these communities (those who spend their days listening to the women who may become or who already are our patients) to understand how our services are experienced by local women, and what we can do to make those experiences even better.

What were your reasons for becoming a Governor?

My role as non-clinical Director in Central Liverpool Primary Care Network involves working with Partner organisations to support and develop services.  Becoming a Governor of Liverpool Women’s creates a great opportunity to bring a primary care voice into secondary care with a particular focus on reducing health inequalities.

What is your background and experience?

I’ve worked in General Practice for over 30 years with the majority of my career being the Management Partner in Brownlow Health, a large inner city group of practices in Liverpool.  I have an interest in strategic healthcare management and have sat on many boards, including Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group. More recently I have taken on an additional role as non-clinical Director at Central Liverpool Primary Care Network and one of my lead areas is developing the Women’s Health Hub.  I have a Masters in Business Administration.

What are you passionate about?

Women’s health and reducing health inequalities.