Ms Sue Brailey

Sue joined Middlesex University as a midwifery lecturer in January 2013. She had previously been living and working in Switzerland where she was a midwifery lecturer at the Berne University of Applied Science and in independent practice attending home births. Sue has always maintained her clinical practice alongside her academic career. Sue combines working as a lecturer at Middlesex University with working as a clinical midwife within a continuity of care model at University Hospital Lewisham.

• Senior Midwifery Lecturer. Middlesex University 2013 – Present
• Opti Breech Team, Lewisham and Greenwich Healthcare Trust, multi site study exploring the feasibility of evaluating a new care pathway for women with a breech pregnancy. 2023 - present
• Case loading midwife Poppie Homebirth Team Lewisham and Greenwich Healthcare trust. 2017 - present
• Case loading midwife. POPPIE, Pilot study into effects of continuity of midwifery care on rates of preterm labour. Lewisham and Greenwich Healthcare trust. 2017-2019
• Expert Witness Lucerne Health Department Switzerland 2021
• Expert Witness. Zurich Health Department, Switzerland 2018
• Midwife, Lewisham Birth Centre 2013- 2017
• Bern University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health, Midwifery Bachelor of Science Programme. Midwifery lecturer. 2007-2012
• Ausbildungszentrum Inselspital (Midwifery School Berne). Midwifery lecturer. 2003-2007
• Independent midwife , Berne Switzerland 2002-2012
• Midwife at free standing midwifery led birthing centre 2002-2009
• Independent midwife, London 1993-2001

Presentations

• Invited workshop leader; “ Nachhaltige Geburtshilfe in der Schweiz - Wo stehen wir? (Sustatinable maternity care in Switzerland - where are we?)Nachhaltige Geburt .CH. May 2019,Zurich Switzerland
• Invited workshop leader; “Selbstbestimmte Mütter brauchen informierte Hebammen “(Assertive mothers need informed midwives),Wege zur hebammen geleiten Geburtshilfe, (Ways towards midwifery led care) University of Applied Science International Study Day, June 2014, Bern, Switzerland
• Invited speaker; Podium Discussion: Which strategies are needed to implement midwifery led care in maternity settings? Rethinking Maternity Care, using the potential of midwives, Swiss Midwives Association Annual Congress, May 15th-16th 2013, Thun, Switzerland
• Invited speaker; The Pain of Labour, a midwife's perspective. Spring Meeting Swiss Association of Obstetric Anaethetists, Bern, Switzerland, March 2013
• Invited speaker; The History of Analgesia in Labour. Bern University, Bern, Switzerland, November 2012
• Invited speaker; The Case for Homebirth. 132nd Conference from the Oberheinsiche Society for Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Belfort, France, May 2010
• Invited speaker; The Midwifery Perspective of the Pain of Labour. University Hospital Basel, December 2009
• Invited speaker; The Pain of Labour, a Midwife's Perspective. 29th Myron B. Laver International Postgraduate Course. Department of Anaestesia, University Hospital Basel, February 2009.
• Invited speaker; The Midwives Perspective on Informed Choice. Springtime Meeting of Swiss Association Obstetric Anaesethists. Lausanne, March 2009
• Invited speaker; The Meaning of Informed Choice in Midwifery Practice. Swiss Midwifery Association Study Day. University Women’s Hospital Bern, April 2004
• Invited speaker; My Way to Midwifery,Comparison of Swiss and UK Systems. Czech Midwives on their Way to the EU. Civic Society Active Birth Centre. Praque, October 2003.
• Invited speaker; Optimal Foetal Positioning. International Confederation of Midwives. Vienna, April 2002
• Invited speaker; Optimal Foetal Positioning, Childbirth at a Turning Point, South West Conference & Workshop Weekend. Plymouth, November 2000
• Invited speaker; Physiological Third Stage of Labour. Workshop leader, ENB Study Day “Homebirth in Practice”, St Georges Hospital, London, October 1997
• Invited speaker; Physiological Third Stage of Labour. Workshop leader, ENB Study Day “Homebirth in Practice”, St Georges Hospital, London, November 1996
• Invited speaker; Working as an Independent Midwife. Workshop leader, ENB Study Day “Homebirth in Practice”, St Georges Hospital, London, November 1995

Poster Presentations

• Luyben, A., Forster Fink, R., Brailey, S., Fink, S. (2013) "Quality of care during pregnancy and childbirth from women‘s points of view in three Swiss cantons (MatHER-ch.ch)", Symposium for General Practioners, 6 November 2013, Bern, Switzerland
• Burkhardt, K., Brailey, S., Forster Fink, R., Hähnlein, K. Conca, A., Luyben, A. (2013) "Betreuung und Erleben der Schwangerschaft aus Sicht der Frauen in drei Schweizer Kantonen" ( Experience of care during pregnancy, a woman’s point of view), Rethinking Maternity Care, using the potential of midwives, Swiss Midwives Association Annual Congress, May 15th-16th 2013, Thun, Switzerland
• Luyben, A., Forster Fink, R., Brailey, S. (2013) "Quality of care during pregnancy and childbirth from women’s points of view in three Swiss cantons (MatHER-ch.ch)". Swiss Obstetric and Gynaecology Society (SGGG), 27. - 29. June Lugano, Switzerland
• Luyben, A. Brailey, S., Forster Fink, R., Steininger, I., Gurtner- Zürcher, C. & Conca, A. (2012) "MatHER-ch.ch: Maternal Health Experiences Research during Childbirth in Switzerland (CH)" Poster (4. Prize), Swiss Midwives Association Annual Congress, Confident Midwives, Confident Women, 23 -24 May 2012, Schwyz, Switzerland
• Gillen, P., Brailey, S., & Luyben, A. (2012) Student Midwives Experiences of Bullying during Training. Swiss Midwifery Association Congress, Schwyz, May 2012. Winner first prize.
• Luyben, A., Brailey, S., Forster Fink, R., Steininger, I., Gurtner- Zürcher, C. & Conca, A. (2012) MatHER-ch: Maternal Health Experiences Research during Childbirth in Switzerland. Swiss Midwifery Association Congress, Schwyz, May 2012
• Gillen, P., Luyben, A. & Brailey, S. (2012) Exploring the nature and manifestations of bullying across child cultures-Breaking point! Swiss Congress for Health Professionals, Winterthur, May 2012

Publications

• Frey,P. Brailey, S., Origlia, P. (2021) „ Vielfalt erweiterter Hebammenrollen in Grossbritannien” (The role of specialist midwives in the UK), Obstetrica, Nov. Ausgabe, pp 18-21
• Brailey, S. (2020) " Hebammen als Sachverstaendige heranziehen" (Engaging midwives as expert witnesses), Obstetrica, No.1,   pp 46-50
• Brailey, S. (2018) "Hello My Name Is" Midwives, ed. Summer, pp 73-75
• Brailey, S. (2016) “The Albany Practice, working in partnership with women” In: Reed, R., Birth in Focus, Stories to inform educate and inspire” Pinter and Martin, London.
• Brailey,S., Jarrett,P., Luyben,A., Poat,A. (2015) "Swimming against the tide: Women's experience of choosing a homebirth in Switzerland" British Journal of Midwifery, Vol.23, no.11, pp 2-10
• Brailey S., (2015); Concepts of informed choice, Letter to the editor International Journal of Birth and Parent Education, Vol 2, no.2, pp 6
• Fink R., Brailey S., Schmid D., Fankhauser L. (2014) "Vaginal Untersuchen"(vaginal examination, skills book), in: Zürcher Schule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Berner Fachhochschule, Skills für Hebammen 2 Geburt, Hep Verlag, Bern, Switzerland, pp 37-68
• Gevers M., Brailey S., Fankhauser L., Senn M., Schmid D. (2014) "Eine Frau unter der Gebut begleiten"(supporting(supporting women in labour, skills book), in: Zürcher Schule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Berner Fachhochschule, Skills für Hebammen 2 Geburt, Hep Verlag, Bern, Switzerland, pp 69-100
• Brailey S. (2014) International Confederation of Midwives Conference, Prague, accepted abstract, “Student Midwives Perceptions of Bullying: a Swiss View“
• Brailey S. (2013)"Frauen in Entscheidungsprozesse eibeziehen –nutzerinnen- partizipation in Grossbritannien und der Schweiz" (women in decision making processes in Switzerland and Great Britain) Hebamme CH, Vol.5, pp4-8
• Brailey, S. (2009) „The politics of pubic hair“ Practising Midwife,Vol. 12, no.11 pp. 27-28
• Brailey, S. (2008) „A Swiss Birthing Centre”, Practising Midwife, Vol.11, no.2, pp. 27-28
• Brailey, S (2006) “Pro und Contra Geburtsplan” (Pros and Cons of Birthplans). Hebamme CH, Vol 10, pp. 4-7
• Brailey, S. (2006) „Die Spontangeburt beim bestehendem Risiko“ (Promoting Normality in Women with Obstetric Complications). In: Cignacco, E. (ed.) Hebammenarbeit Assessment, Diagnosen und Interventionen bei (patho) Physiologischen und Psychosozialen Phänomenen. 1st ed.,Huber Publishers: Bern, pp. 199-221
• Brailey, S. (2005) "Zeitgemässiger Ethtik” (Informed Choice), Hebamme CH, Vol. 10, pp. 4-9 Brailey, S. (2004) “Optimierung der Kindslage“ (Optimal Foetal Positioning). Schweizer Hebamme, Vol.6, pp. 4-7
• Brailey, S. (2003) “Episiotomie Gerechtfertiger Eingriff?” (Episiotomy, a justifiable procedure?) Schweizer Hebamme,Vol. 3, pp. 4-9
• Brailey, S. (2003) “Making room for babies”. Midwifery Today,.Spring, pp. 14-15

Further professional activity

• Expert Witness: Canton of Luzern Health Department, Switzerland, April-June 2021
• Expert Witness: Canton of Zuerich Health Department, Switzerland, September- December 2018
• Cultural Exchange Awareness Week. Leuven Lindburg University, Belgium. February 2016
• Erasmus exchange: Berne University of Applied Sciences Switzerland. Skills workshops, vaginal examination, caring for women in labour. Lecture: Midwifery in the UK.December 2015
• Member of (COST) European Cooperation in Science and Technology. Working Group 4. September 2015
• Erasmus exchange: Berne University of Applied Sciences Switzerland. Skills workshops, vaginal examination, caring for women in labour. Lecture: Midwifery in the UK. December 2014
• Trainer in Neonatal Resuscitation. Annual Skills Training for Domiciliary Midwives. Bildungsforum Geburt & Primärgesundheit, Bern 2005-2012
• Member of editorial board for Swiss Midwifery Association Journal, Hebamme CH. 2002-2012
• Member of "Quality Circle for Homebirth", responsible for: peer review, reflective practice, audit, and writing of clinical guidelines for midwives providing homebirths in the Berne area. 2005-2012
• Member of "Study day Group Canton Berne" responsible for organizing annual study days for members of the Swiss Midwifery Association. 2003-2008
• Member of Maternity Services Liaison Committee, Bromley, Kent. 1994-2000
• "Relief for Romania,Kings Fund" Tirnaveni Romania. Needs assessment for health services in Tirnaveni region Romania. Sept-1993

Qualifications

• MSc Midwifery Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, 2011
• Registered Midwife, Nightingale and Guys College of Health, London, 1993
• Registered Nurse, Thames College of Health, London, 1990
• BA Social Science, University of Westminster, London, 1987

Languages spoken

English, German

Languages Spoken

English, German