Catherine Cooper

Qualifications

BSc Midwifery, MSc Midwifery & Women's Health, BA Law

Specialisms

Hospital midwife, intrapartum and postnatal care, maternity triage, midwifery led birth centre.

Introduction

I qualified as a midwife in 2006 and gained broad experience as a hospital midwife in all clinical areas including working as a community midwife, practice development midwife and supervisor of midwives. I developed a particular interest in physiological birth and low risk midwifery care, especially homebirth and waterbirth. I also worked in clinical governance; including audit, guideline development and risk management. 

I currently work clinical shifts as a bank midwife, predominantly on the antenatal ward, including antenatal triage, inpatient care, induction of labour and the care and monitoring of high risk women. During a shift I am routinely involved in undertaking CTG analysis, observations, vaginal examinations, scan reviews, risk assessment and care planning. I also work shifts on the midwifery led birthing unit and postnatal wards providing intrapartum and postnatal care. This allows me to maintain my clinical knowledge and skills and awareness of current practice issues. In addition to my clinical work I also work as an NMC Fitness to Practise Committee member. This role involves the consideration and analysis of evidence in the form of documents, including medical notes, as well as oral testimony.  As a panel, we make findings of fact on the evidence presented and assess any public protection or public interest concerns. Additionally, I provide a birth trauma resolution service to women and families on a freelance basis. 

Whilst completing my MSc, I worked at a large NHS Trust as part of the senior management team as education team lead. This involved recruitment and retention of staff, as well as ensuring appropriate training for all staff and meeting 'Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts' requirements. I trained as a practical obstetric multi-professional training (PROMPT) trainer and completed my NALS (advanced neonatal life support) training. Respectful, compassionate maternity care is very important to me, and I developed a staff training programme based on the White Ribbon Alliance’s Respectful Maternity Care campaign to highlight where care was disrespectful/abusive. 

I opened and managed a new Birth Centre in January 2013, leading a team specialising in physiological birth.

In 2015 I left the NHS and worked as a Consultant Midwife and Head of Clinical Services, for a private company, providing commissioned maternity care to women. This care was based on the evidence-based excellent case-loading model of care, providing care to women in their own homes from the same midwife or team of midwives. This provided me with great experience of home birth and physiological birth, along with deep insight into the workings of NHS organisations and the variations in clinical practices.

I accept instructions from both claimant and defendant solicitors and insurers. I have undergone formal training in the medico-legal process and am fully aware of my responsibilities under Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses.