Hayley Saunders

Qualifications

PG Dip Midwifery, MSc Professional Practice (Midwifery), PGC Level 1 Obstetric Ultrasound

Specialisms

• Hospital Midwife
• Sonographer
• Independent Prescriber
• Early Pregnancy Unit

Introduction

I qualified as a Registered Nurse in March 2007 and worked briefly in a medical setting, caring for patients with gastrointestinal problems and serious infectious diseases. However, my true vocation was as a midwife, so I completed the postgraduate midwifery course in March 2009. 

Between 2015 and 2021 I worked as a senior midwifery clinician, working directly with the senior obstetrician at the level of junior doctor within obstetrics and gynaecology in a high-risk unit. In this role I was the clinician directly responsible for taking obstetric and gynaecological referrals from midwives, triage, and GP’s. I worked autonomously to physically examine these patients, order appropriate diagnostic tests, and undertake referrals to the appropriate members of the multidisciplinary team. 

I am trained in advanced clinical skills, including biophysical assessment within obstetrics, resuscitation, speculum assessment, consenting for surgical procedures, cannulation, complex perineal suturing, surgical skills and assisting at instrumental and caesarean deliveries. I completed the independent prescribing course in 2016, allowing me to independently assess, diagnose and prescribe medication for pregnant and postnatal women.

In addition, I am also a qualified midwife sonographer, trained in 1st trimester and 3rd trimester foetal ultrasound; combined screening (including nuchal translucency measurement); foetal growth surveillance, amniotic fluid measurement and umbilical artery doppler.

Following the merger of 2 large hospitals within the health board in 2021, my role expanded to also include that of a labour ward coordinator. During any shift my role could rotate between the senior midwife ensuring the safety of the high-risk labour ward, the obstetric triage, the high dependency unit, obstetric theatres or as the lead midwife maintaining situational awareness across the whole maternity unit; including the alongside midwife led unit, induction of labour and antenatal and postnatal wards.

I am passionate about maintaining safety and quality in maternity care. As a result, in 2019 I completed training by the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales to become a peer reviewer during their unannounced visits, in order to assess the quality of maternity services throughout Wales. I have also recently completed NMC accredited training to re-instate my registered nurse qualification in order to accept a secondment into a Senior Nurse post for the Health Board in February 2023, a role undertaken alongside continuation of midwifery and sonography clinical work and training.

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.