We are delighted to announce the appointment of a new Director of Midwifery
Shirley Peterson will take up the position on a permanent basis when she joins the Trust in May.
Shirley is currently Deputy Chief Nurse/Head of Midwifery at the Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust, a position she has held since 2017.
In her current role, Shirley is also co-chair of the East London Local Maternity system, which is a collaboration of stakeholders, commissioners, voluntary organisations, plus women and their families, who work together to improve care pathways for pregnant women.
Prior to joining the Homerton, Shirley held senior midwifery roles at Lewisham Hospital, as well as consultant midwife and deputy head of midwifery positions at King’s College Hospital.
In 2019, Shirley was awarded the Chief Midwifery Officer ‘Silver award’ for services to midwifery, and she has also been a judge for the annual Health Service Journal (HSJ) awards.
Shirley said: “As soon as I became aware of this role at St George’s, I knew it was a position I wanted to apply for, so I am genuinely delighted to be joining the Trust in May.
“Like all midwives, I care deeply about women’s experience of maternity care – but, as important, I want staff to feel supported to deliver exemplary care to women. So I am really excited, and can’t wait to get started.”
Emilie Perry, Divisional Director of Operations for our Children’s, Women’s, Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Community Division, added:
“I am really pleased that we have been able to appoint Shirley, whose enthusiasm for midwifery as a specialty really shone through at interview.
“Our midwifery service is such an important part of the Trust, and something our communities rely on, with over 5,000 babies born here every year.
“We want to make the service the best it can possibly be – for pregnant women and our staff – so I am looking forward to Shirley joining us in May.”
Debbie Graham, interim Director of Midwifery, will continue in her current role at the Trust until Shirley joins us later this year.
