Meet the network team

Bernadette Hurst, Senior Clinical Network Manager

Email: bernadette.hurst@nhs.net

Bernadette has worked in the NHS for nearly 7 years, initially joining the North West Strategic Health Authority to lead the development and delivery of a large scale change programme across the North West region supporting the Health, Wellbeing and Social Care reforms and the transition of Public Health into Local Government. In her current role, Bernadette is a member of the senior management team for the Networks and Senate, and deputises for the Associate Director.

Prior to this, Bernadette has led multi-organisational partnerships at both regional and sub-regional levels, aimed at securing continuous improvement in the public sector. She has  many years experience of leading complex multi-disciplinary teams, including a considerable period of time as an Assistant Chief Executive within Local Government.

Bernadette has also spent several years as part of a team seconded to central Government providing advice and support to all Authorities in the North West around the Government’s modernisation agenda. Her work has received national recognition by the Local Government Information Unit, the Institute for Public Policy and Research, the Merseyside Observatory for Social Inclusion, the IDeA and a number of universities.

Tracy Marsden, Clinical Network Manager

Email: tracy.marsden5@nhs.net

Cath Jackson, Clinical Network Manager

Email: catherine.jackson23@nhs.net

Jodie Emmott, Clinical Network Manager

Email: jodie.emmott@nhs.net

Lyn Howard, Clinical Network Coordinator

Email: lynda.howard@nhs.net

Meet the clinical network team

David Rowlands MB, ChB, FRCOG – Clinical Lead, Maternity

David Rowlands is Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Wirral University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Liverpool.

He is passionate about the delivery of a high quality patient centred service, with care provided by the most appropriate person, at the most appropriate time, in the most appropriate way, in the most appropriate place.

His experience as a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Clinical Director of Women’s Services, Clinical Head of Division for Women & Children’s Services and Medical Director at Wirral University Teaching Hospital provides a firm platform to take the clinical agenda forward in what is going to be an extremely challenging but also exciting time for the service.

David’s clinical leadership is regionally and nationally recognised by roles as Chair of the NHS Clinical Leaders Network North West, the CLN NW Steering Committee and NHS (Darzi) Review. He was Deputy Chair for the Birth NW Clinical Pathway Group from 2006 –2008 and Chair for the NW Birth and Newborn Clinical Pathway Group 2009 – present. The pathway is based on normalisation of pregnancy and advising commissioners on how this may be improved, making maternity relevant to the family and ongoing health and social care.

Dr Gill Strachan MBChB, MRCGP, MRCPsych – Clinical Lead, Perinatal Mental Health

Dr Gill Strachan is a Consultant Psychiatrist working for Lancashire Care Foundation NHS Trust. After initially training in general practice Gill then specialised in psychiatry, working in Blackpool with a special interest in perinatal psychiatry before undertaking a Perinatal Bursary through Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2017. In November 2018 the new Ribblemere Mother and Baby Unit opened in Chorley where Gill is the consultant psychiatrist.

Gill chairs the Perinatal Mental Health Network for the North West Coast Strategic Clinical Networks and leads the Perinatal Mental Health work stream for Lancashire and South Cumbria Better Births. Gill is also chair of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance Better Start perinatal group in Blackpool and was elected to the executive committee of the RCPsych Perinatal Faculty this year.