THERE are only a handful of consultant midwives working in the NHS - and one of those is based at Warrington Hospital.

Louise Tucker joined Warrington and Halton Hospitals when the innovative role was first established in 2015.

And she remains one of only three consultant midwives working in the north west.

She said: “It’s a really enjoyable job, and something I’ve always aspired to be.

“When you’re working in a clinical role, you make a difference to one woman and her family - when you’re in a consultant midwife role, it’s more about empowering the midwives.

“I can make a difference to more women by doing the role I’m doing.

“It’s about empowering the midwife and ensuring that pathways are in place so that women can access the right level of care.”

The role of consultant midwife involves a mixture of hands-on work and leadership.

Louise added: “Fifty per cent of the time I’m visible in the clinical areas, while the rest of it is about leadership, consultancy and setting up projects.

“A lot of the time, it is about looking at what we’re doing well and where we can improve and pulling all of that together.

“With women who have uncomplicated pregnancies, the outcomes are better for women who give birth on a midwifery-led unit or at home.

“It’s about making sure that we have the right processes in place for these women, and also making sure that women on the labour ward still have the care they need available to them.”

And an open day for women who are planning to give birth at Warrington Hospital be held this weekend.

The event for expectant mums and their families will take place in the Croft wing antenatal clinic from 10am to 2.30pm on Saturday, March 9.

Attendees can meet the midwives who will be involved in their care, find out more about complimentary therapies and take a tour of the unit.

Parents-to-be can also meet with specialists in feeding babies and quitting smoking and take part in one-to-one sessions on hypnobirthing, birth planning and parent education.

And 4D baby scans are being offered in return for a £10 donation.

Louise said: “We really want to showcase what we do.

“This is an opportunity for women to come along, have a look at what we’re offering and a chance to look around and speak to us.”