Jennifer Russell, Registered Midwife

Professional Experience

I qualified as a midwife in 2000 and have since worked predominantly in acute hospital settings, with a focus on intrapartum care. My clinical roles have included Rotational Midwife, Triage Midwife, Delivery Suite Core Midwife, Enhanced Midwife Practitioner, and most notably, Delivery Suite Coordinator—a position I held for the majority of my career. These roles have provided extensive exposure to both low-risk and complex births, as well as the management of acutely unwell women during the antenatal and postnatal periods. I have significant experience in managing obstetric emergencies, including shoulder dystocia, haemorrhage (antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum), maternal and neonatal collapse, breech deliveries, and eclamptic seizures.

From June 2018 to November 2023, I worked in Patient Safety and Governance for Women’s and Children’s Services at a large NHS Trust, while continuing clinical practice. In this role, I led rapid reviews, incident investigations, and complaint responses, and regularly met with families to discuss findings and service improvements. I was appointed Matron for Inpatient and Intrapartum Care in November 2023, overseeing a unit with approximately 4,000 births annually.

In January 2025, I transitioned to a Matron role covering three antenatal and postnatal wards across two sites. I continue to practise clinically through both my substantive post and the Staff Bank. My clinical competencies include perineal suturing, epidural top-ups, IV drug administration, cannulation, phlebotomy, and blood transfusion. I have worked extensively with women experiencing complex medical and obstetric conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, renal disease, genetic disorders, and blood-borne infections.

Professional Development

I am a Professional Midwifery Advocate. I have delivered training in obstetric emergencies and CTG interpretation, both in formal settings and in situ simulations.

My academic background includes a Law degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law and Ethics in Healthcare. This legal foundation has informed my approach to clinical governance, risk management, and patient safety. I have collaborated closely with the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (now Maternity and Neonatal Safety Investigations) and have contributed to internal and external reviews of maternity care. I am also employed as a Specialist Advisor to the Care Quality Commission and continue to participate in inspections