Susan Edwards

Qualifications

RGN, BSc (Hons) Midwifery

Specialisms

Community midwife, home births, antenatal care, postnatal care, safeguarding

Introduction

I am an experienced community midwife providing care to mothers, newborn babies and families in the community throughout pregnancy and postnatally.  I am also experienced in intrapartum care in various settings including home, low risk birth centres and high risk labour ward areas.

I qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1994 and began my career as a Staff Nurse on a busy medical ward with a specialisation in diabetes, here I developed a keen interest in wound care and undertook various wound care courses and cared for wounds on a daily basis along with all other aspects of nursing care. In 1997 I undertook a critical care module and commenced the role of junior sister on a busy medical high dependency unit, there I honed my management skills alongside continuing clinical skills with acutely ill patients.

In 1999 I commenced a midwifery degree and took up post as a hospital midwife in a busy maternity unit, I rotated around all the areas to glean skills in all the departments, including antenatal ward, labour ward, theatre and postnatal ward. This is where I discovered my passion for normality within the midwifery setting and in 2004 I moved to a community team midwifery setting where I currently practice, providing all care to mothers and their newborn, antenatally, postnatally and intrapartum, including home deliveries, and also I have some experience working in a stand alone birth centre. normality is where I feel my main expertise lies.

In 2017 I undertook the neonatal and infant physical examination (NIPE) course as I felt this was an important aspect of providing community care for women, babies and their families, helping to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital or readmission following a quick discharge from hospital. this I would consider my second area of expertise.

The third area that I have a lot of expertise I also have vast experience in safeguarding procedure. The area I work in has a high level of child protection cases of which I am involved in on a daily basis therefore consider my knowledge base to be exceptional. I have been a ' link ' safeguarding midwife for a number of years and work closely with the safeguarding lead midwife and the multi-agency safeguarding hub.

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.