Susan Baines

I am currently a Lecturer in Midwifery and Healthcare Ethics at the University of Salford. I have been both a General nurse and a midwifery practitioner for over 30 years, specialising in gynaecology and family planning. I have a keen interest in birthing normality, pregnancy Aquatics, water birth and maternal rights and have published and presented Nationally and Internationally.

I have worked extensively within both the NHS and Independent healthcare sectors. I qualified as a Midwife in 1986 and then went on to study an advanced Diploma and then first degree and MA in Ethics. I managed the Bolton City Challenge Government North West maternity and women’s health project in the late nineties which I later presented at the King’s Fund and RCM conference. My work was recognized by Baroness Jay of Paddington and was the precursor of “Sure Start”. I became a Supervisor of Midwives at WWL NHS Trust and completed a family planning course and health service management certificate. I have worked more recently for the OU as an associate Lecturer in Health Management and Leadership and due to my experience of community health I became a member of the UK REP as a specialist teacher of Aqua exercise for pregnancy (I am one of only 2 midwives in the UK to hold this title).

I won a VC research award from the University of Salford in 2004 and used the funding to present papers at three Australian Universities on the benefits of water based exercise in pregnancy. I am Midwifery Director of my own independent Midwifery business which is CQC registered.