Who we are
Our partners, governance and engagement
The Maternal and Infant Health and Care theme is a consortium of NHS, University and voluntary sector organisations. It brings together multidisciplinary expertise in innovation and education in the field. Based in the Mother and Infant Research Unit (MIRU) at the University of York and Hull York Medical School, the theme is jointly led by Professor Mary Renfrew (MIRU) and Professor Bill McGuire (Hull York Medical School).
We work with existing regional and national groups, all maternity and neonatal services across the region and stakeholders, and are working collaboratively with all universities within Yorkshire and the Humber. More information is available around the groups we run or attend and the associated meetings.
We use accurate and current local, regional and national information / data relating to mothers and babies in partnership with ChiMat, the national public health observatory for children and maternity.
Meet the team
The Maternal and Infant Health and Care theme staff are:
Professor Mary J Renfrew BSc, RGN, SCM, DN, PhD is the Director, Mother and Infant Research Unit, Department of Health Sciences at University of York and Co-Director, Maternal and Infant Health and Care theme, Yorkshire and Humber Health Innovation and Education Cluster (HIEC)
A midwife by clinical background, Mary has been involved in practice, research and education in midwifery and maternity care for over 30 years, in Edinburgh, Oxford, Leeds, and York in the UK, and in Alberta, Canada. She has on-going and recent research and development work in infant feeding, inequalities in health, the organisation of maternity care, and avoiding interventions in childbirth. She led a programme of work on evidence and guidance and practice development related to maternal and infant nutrition for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
She is the co-author of around 100 peer reviewed publications and seven books. She has been co-editor of the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group, Chair of the Steering Group of the UK Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition, and Chair of the WHO Strategic Committee for Maternal and Newborn Health. She is a member of the International Council of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, a Council member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, a member of the Research Standing Committee of the International Confederation of Midwives, and is a Senior Investigator with the National Institute for Health Research.
Email: [email protected]
www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/miru
Bill McGuire – Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health – Hull York Medical School, Consultant Neonatologist at York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Co-Director YH HIEC Maternal and Infant Health and Care Theme
In his present post in HYMS, Bill aims to continue to promote the use of research synthesis to support the evidence-base for policy and practice in perinatal and child health.
Bill trained in general medicine and paediatrics in the UK and Australia before specialising in neonatology. His formative research experience was as a Wellcome Trust Advanced Training Fellow at the Institute of Molecular Medicine in Oxford and MRC Tropical Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
Bill’s interest in evidence-based practice and research synthesis was fostered by a RCPCH Fellowship at the Institute of Child Health in London in 1999 and developed during spells as Senior Lecturer at the Tayside Institute of Child Health and Associate Professor of Neonatology at the Australian National University.
Bill has been an enthusiastic reviewer for the Cochrane Collaboration, principally contributing to the work of the Neonatal and Pregnancy and Childbirth Groups.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01904 321060
Fax: 01904 321041
Cath Burke is Lecturer/Practitioner, Maternal and Infant Health and Care theme, Yorkshire and Humber Health Innovation and Education Cluster (HIEC) – until July 2012
Cath Burke is an experienced midwife, having practiced since 1990. She has developed expertise predominantly in the community setting since 1995, and developed academically through the attainment of a first class honours degree in biomedical sciences, and a master’s degree in public health. She has led a multi-agency team, as well as a community midwifery team in SureStart Children Centres. Cath is a supervisor of midwives and was a community midwifery practice facilitator until undertaking her current role as lecturer / practitioner with the Yorkshire and the Humber Health Innovation and Education Cluster (Y & H HIEC).
Cath is passionate about narrowing the social and health inequalities gap especially for young people and is delighted to be involved in a project that aims to reduce caesarean section rates increase normal birth rates and increase breastfeeding and infant/ maternal attachment and bonding through spread and adoption of innovative, evidence based practice.
Julie Watson is Lecturer/Practitioner, Maternal and Infant Health and Care theme, Yorkshire and Humber Health Innovation and Education Cluster (HIEC)
Julie has extensive practical and project lead experience in the fields relevant to developing the children’s sector workforce: Perinatal, infant and child health, maternal health and wellbeing as well as leading early intervention in pregnancy projects to impact upon improved outcomes for children.
Julie is specifically passionate about ‘promoting parent-child relationships’; working with vulnerable families and key targets for breast feeding as well as the challenges within childhood practice. Specialist interest and public output in the perinatal and infant mental health arena (UK wide).
E-mail: [email protected]
Margaret Jackson – Communication and Engagement Lead – Until July 2012
Margaret retired from her position as Head of Midwifery at York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in April 2011; following a career which began with nursing training at Leeds General Infirmary in 1968 she qualified and then moved to London to do her midwifery training at King’s College. Moving to York in 1978, Margaret took up post at Fulford Maternity Hospital, before the service was moved to the York District Hospital in 1983, where she remained throughout her career.
Margaret has played a leading role in the development of maternity services for the last 33 years and has provided professional leadership throughout the Trust and the wider region. As well as her role as Head of Midwifery, she has also been deputy chief nurse, named midwife for child protection and supervisor of midwives.
Following a very short retirement the team are thrilled to have Margaret working with them to engage colleagues and peers in their work; which is made so much easier through her experience and respect from colleagues across the region.
Pauline Holloway is Administrator/Secretary, Maternal and Infant Health and Care theme, Yorkshire and Humber Health Innovation and Education Cluster (HIEC) – Until September 2012
Pauline comes from a HR background; working for 14 years at Scottish Courage within the Brewery at John Smith’s Ltd. Here she gained valuable experience in project management, administration, system design and implementation.
Pauline has been applying these organisational skills within the HIEC Maternal and Infant Health and Care team since October 2010, to great success.
