Research midwife wants to improve health outcomes
- 10 September 2024
- 2 min read
A south London research midwife has said her desire to help women and children to improve maternity outcomes is why she works in midwifery.
Jenie Sparkes is a Senior Research Midwife at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. She qualified as a midwife in 2001 and transitioned into research in 2013.
Jenie has been the lead research midwife for three national research trials: PARROT, PARROT-2 and Giant PANDA.
She is encouraging others to consider a career in research midwifery so they can be at the cutting edge of medical advancements and learn new things. Jenie said:
"Research midwifery is a rewarding career. There's something fulfilling about supporting women and families during one of the most significant times in their lives. The idea of being at the forefront of evidence-based practice and improving outcomes for mothers and babies was a strong motivator for me.
"The opportunity to provide care, guidance, and comfort during childbirth inspired me to pursue this career. If you're passionate about learning and problem-solving, research midwifery could be a great fit for you.
"I'd like to emphasise that you don't need a Master's or PhD to start in research midwifery. I began my journey without advanced degrees and no prior research experience. You can achieve great things with determination, a willingness to learn, and support from colleagues.
"Today, I am proud to lead research trials across 59 sites. This proves that dedication and passion can take you far in this field."
Research midwives' responsibilities include:
- inviting people to join research studies
- caring for people taking part in research
- carrying out study procedures
- developing new treatments or procedures based on research findings
They also work to embed the findings of research to improve working practices.
The NIHR is the largest funder of health and care research in the UK. The NIHR supports nurses and midwives in improving lives through research. You can find out more about this support on the NIHR's website.
