Every midwife at the Trust is supported by a supervisor - an experienced midwife who helps them to give the very best of care to mothers-to-be in the local area, whether at home or in our hospitals.
Supervisor of midwives are also here to positively influence and support the professional development of our midwives. This is your guide to who's who in the team of supervisors at the Trust.
Sally Sivas, Head of Midwifery
Sally has been a midwife for more than 26 years and a supervisor of midwives since 1995. She is passionate about empowering mothers-to-be to make choices about their care, including where and how they have their baby.
She says: "Helping to support midwives in delivering care that is effective, current and safe is one of the best jobs ever."
Suzanne Bouchard, lead midwife and clinical placement facilitator
Her job involves working closely with all of the student midwives who come to study at the Trust from Kingston University. As part of her role, she helps to ensure all midwives have the opportunity to attend and benefit from the most up-to-date training. This training enables all midwives to provide a high standard of care to women within a safe environment.
As a supervisor, she is contributing to providing the most rewarding experience to both the women we treat and our midwives.
Gina Brockwell, lead midwife birth centre / normality
Gina is responsible for promoting natural birth within the Trust. She qualified as a midwife in 1995 and was appointed as a supervisor of midwives in 2003. She is committed to supporting women in having a positive birth experience within a parent-centred maternity service.
Her role as a supervisor enables her to ensure high standards of safety are maintained within the maternity service, whilst supporting both women and midwives.
Heather Crosskey, community midwife
Having been a midwife since 1982, Heather became a supervisor of midwives in 1996 and enjoys the work involved. She works as a community midwife in the Epsom area and values the chance to give continuity of care to the women in our local area.
Irene Eastwood, community midwife
Irene has been a midwife for many years and has seen many changes in midwifery. She is committed to supporting midwives during any changes and any challenges they may face. She believes that women and their families deserve the best possible service, as their children are our future.
Jeanette Hennessy, lead midwife for inpatient services
Jeanette always knew that she wanted to make a positive contribution to midwifery. After qualifying as a midwife in 1992, she has aimed to do just that on a daily basis. She has worked in all areas of maternity, including antenatal, community and in the delivery suite and was appointed supervisor in 2000.
Since then, she has encountered many challenges along the way, but has continued in her quest to improve maternity services for both new parents and their babies. By supporting midwives in their professional development and ensuring our practice is of the highest standard,
Jeanette is helping to make sure the people in our care get the treatment they need and want.
Mandy James, community midwife
Mandy first qualified as a nurse in 1988, then as a neonatal nurse in 1989, and went onto qualify as a midwife in 1992. She also has a law degree and qualified successfully as a supervisor of midwives in July 2009. She has been a community midwife for four years and is also a qualified newborn examiner.
Annette Hunter, specialist diabetes midwife
Annette became a supervisor of midwives in 2006 because she believes that all mothers should have care of the highest standard. They should also have a safe and knowledgeable practitioner to meet their needs at such a personal and emotional time in their lives.
Margaret Joyce, community midwife
Margaret has been a midwife for many years and has gained a lot of experience in all aspects of midwifery. She has always felt very privileged to be a midwife, as midwives deliver care to women at a very personal time in their lives.
Midwives are there throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period and that is an incredibly special thing for her. She became a supervisor of midwives in 2001. Margaret believes that mothers deserve a safe, equitable, high quality service, where they have choice and good access to all midwifery services.
She is passionate about midwifery and the service that is provided for mothers and their families.
Siew Khoo, delivery suite co-ordinator
Siew is an experienced hospital midwife and has been a supervisor of midwives since 2003. She is committed to supporting and empowering midwives in their practice and professional development so that they can continue to provide safe, quality family-centred care.
Helen McCrann, delivery suite co-ordinator
Helen has been a midwife since 1987 and a supervisor of midwives since 1999. She is also involved in the collection of statistics with the aim of ensuring the best care for mothers and their babies.
Maria Mills Shaw, home birth lead
Maria passionately believes that being a midwife means promoting natural births for all women. She feels that working with women and their families at such a special time in their lives is a great joy and privilege.
As supervisors, we strive to help by ensuring women and their families are given the best and safest possible care by working to maintain and improve clinical standards at all times.
Anne Walker, community midwife
Anne has been working as a community midwife at St Helier since 1989. During this time, she completed her advanced diploma in midwifery in 1995 and went on to study to degree level, gaining BSc (Hons) in midwifery in 1999 and became a supervisor of Midwives in 2002.
She enjoys the challenges that community midwifery entails and is particularly keen to continue to promote home birth and support midwives in helping women to achieve this.
Neelam Worthington, community midwife
Neelam became a midwife in 1977 and a supervisor in 2006. During her time as a midwife, she has encountered many changes in women's health, some of which have been challenging.
She works as a community midwife and is passionate about working with women, for women. Neelam works in the Leatherhead, Ashtead and Cobham area and enjoy the diversity my job entails.
Patience Ohikhena, lead midwife - antenatal and community
Patience was a midwife for several years before becoming a supervisor of midwives in 2003. As a supervisor, she is responsible for protecting our patients by ensuring that they receive a high standard of care in a safe environment.
She supports midwives throughout their working lives, ensuring they have access to training and development for their personal growth, which in turn, enhances their confidence and competence. Patience enjoys being a midwife, particularly being a supervisor.
Sher Morris, lead midwife - risk and clinical governance
Sher has been a supervisor of midwives for more than 13 years, a position where she can positively influence and support the professional development of other midwives and contribute to the development and provision of maternity services.
Her experience has shown that midwives come to their supervisor for advice and guidance, and she believes this partnership can only serve to make sure that we achieve our goal of protecting the safety of mothers and their babies.
