Claire Darling

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Midwifery, MSc Midwifery

Specialisms

Hospital midwife, intrapartum care, labour ward co-ordinator, complex birth, maternity triage

Introduction

I currently hold the position of Associate Director of Midwifery Services with operational oversight of all areas of intrapartum care, triage, maternity theatres, governance, education, and assurance for a Level 3 tertiary unit. I am a highly experienced hands-on clinician with over 15 years’ experience as an intrapartum midwife, senior leader, Consultant midwife, intrapartum quality and safety lead and labour ward co-ordinator covering all areas of both low risk (midwifery led / birth centre managed) and high risk (obstetric led) intrapartum care.  This extensive experience includes the antenatal and intrapartum care and management of women with complex medical, obstetric and social needs, women experiencing induction/augmentation of labour and the use of oxytocin infusions.  I regularly contribute to regional and national intrapartum and foetal monitoring guidelines including those published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).  I am currently one of four clinicians authoring the latent stage of labour national guideline.

I am an expert in all areas of antenatal and intrapartum foetal heart monitoring including Dawes Redman, Intelligent Intermittent Auscultation (IIA) and the interpretation of continuous cardiotography (CTG).  I am trained in the underpinning foetal physiology, classification and peer review compliancy and am Baby Lifeline Advanced foetal monitoring accredited.  I am passionate about providing the highest level of safe and quality intrapartum care and I remain a fully hands-on clinician undertaking regular clinical shifts in the labour ward, maternity triage and the antenatal ward settings.

My experience has included working within one of the UK’s largest tertiary unit.  My practice extends to Intensive Care and Cardiac Critical Care Unit (CCCU) outreach as a Level 2/3 trained midwife via a specialist outreach team before and during the Covid 19 pandemic. I am an expert in maternity triage pathways of care including the  Birmingham Symptom Specific Triage System (BSOTS).   I consider myself to be an expert clinician that is visible and who leads by example and has the confidence to expand midwifery practice boundaries, inspire and support all clinicians in the care of women experiencing both normal and complex birth including instrumental and caesarean section. I am a current Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA) and a previous Supervisor of Midwives (SoM) with extensive understanding of the legal and professional conduct/boundaries aspects of midwifery practice.

I am a lead contributor to national compliancy targets /standards including Ockenden 1 and 2, MIA, MIS, CQC regional and national guidelines I am also a member of the Acute Illness Management (AIMS) Board.

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.