An assemble of progressive healthcare professionals, advisors and academics, our team are responsible for the strategic direction, logistical operations and external activities of the FGM National Clinical Group's work.
Click the names for the full biography:
Patrons
Central to our continued efforts, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for their support,
contribution and commitment.
Baroness Ruth Rendell
Cathy Warwick CBE
General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
Co-founders
Sarah Creighton
Consultant Gynaecologist, University College Hospital London
Yana Richens
Consultant Midwife, University College Hospital, London
Members
Dorcas Akeju OBE (Chair)
Specialist Midwife for FGM/Inherited Blood Disorders
Alison Byrne
Specialist Midwife, Heart of England NHS Trust
Aderonke Gilbertson
Qualified Midwife and member of the Liverpool FGM Group
Tina Lavender
Professor of Midwifery, University of Manchester and St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester
Carol McCormick
Consultant Midwife and Supervisor of Midwives at Nottingham University Hospitals
Comfort Momoh
Midwife and FGM/Public Health Specialist, Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital, London
Joanne Topping (Treasurer)
Consultant Obstetrician, Liverpool Women's Hospital
Dorothy Lee Zack-Williams
Clinical Nurse Specialist Lead for Haemoglobinopathies, Liverpool PCT, Merseyside
Tunde Zack-Williams
Professor of Sociology, University of Central Lancashire
Support team
Linda Holmes
Company Director,
Parenthesis Design Consultancy
(Creators of the FGM NCG brand identity)
Becky Lavender
FGM National Clinical Group Researcher
Mahbir Thukral
Brand Guardian & Online Brand Presence
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I have been working to put an end to Female Genital Mutilation in the
United Kingdom for a number of years now. Introducing me to Yana Richens
a consultant midwife at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in London,
and through her to gynaecologist Sarah Creighton, will be a landmark in
this enterprise.
The newly-formed National Clinical Guideline group is to be launched to
educate health care professionals and combat FGM in what I think may
well be the most effective move yet. They have asked me to be one of its
patrons. The group’s instigators are ideally placed to recognise and
monitor instances of FGM among patients and clients. They are also keen
and vigorous opponents of this cruel and entirely unnecessary practice.
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Cathy Warwick CBE is General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), one of the world's oldest and
largest midwifery organisations, representing the majority of the UK’s midwives.
Cathy began her career by gaining a nursing degree at Edinburgh University in 1975. She then completed the
one year midwifery course at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in London in 1976, and worked as a midwife across
a variety of clinical settings in hospitals and in the community. She has held a number of senior posts
in midwifery education and in the NHS managing midwifery and nursing services. Prior to joining the RCM
she was Director of Midwifery and General Manager for Women & Children’s Services at King College Hospital
in London. She has an MSc in Social Policy, an Advanced Diploma in Midwifery (ADM) and a Post Graduate
Certificate in Education of Adults.
Her work has led to invitations to sit on many national maternity policy committees, and she has been Chair
of the Midwifery Committee at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Chair of the maternity working group
contributing to the Darzi report, Healthcare for London.
Cathy has also written and published widely on midwifery issues and lectures and speaks nationally and
internationally. She was awarded a visiting professorship by King’s College, London in 2004.
She received a CBE for Services to Healthcare in 2006, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from
St George’s and Kingston University, London in 2007.
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I am an NHS Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology University College London Hospitals NHS Trust.
I have a special interest in paediatric and adolescent gynaecology. I work with adolescents and adult women
with acquired and congenital genital anomalies. In 2000 I established the African Women’s Clinic at UCH for
women affected by female genital mutilation. This clinic offers a sensitive and holistic approach for women
affects by FGM. We offer reversal as an outpatient procedure if wished and psychological support is available.
I lecture widely on the health implications of FGM.
I am committed to improving health care available for women resident in the UK affected by FGM and also
to the prevention of FGM.
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Yana Richens SEN, RGN, RM,BSc (Hons) Nursing, MSc Midwifery
I am a Consultant Midwife in Public Health at University College Hospitals London, It was whilst working with
women during the postnatal period that I became aware that not all women who have undergone FGM were aware
that this procedure is against the law in the UK. It was also clear that, midwives and health care professionals
who come into contact with women. It was following an introduction to Baroness Rendell of Babergh and a discussion
with Sarah Creighton that the UK FGM clinical guideline group was formed.
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Dorcas has been a practising midwife for over 30 years and work in all areas of
midwifery with the last 15 years on Community. She was the co-ordinator of the
pilot team which implemented Changing Childbirth at the Liverpool Women’s
Hospital in 1996.
In 1999, she was actively involved in the developing of a special Antenatal
clinic (The Link Clinic) for women who do not speak English ensuring an
effective ways of communication. The clinic is supported by Health Link Workers
who have dual languages; interpreters and Telephone Line are used as
appropriate.
In 2003, Dorcas was honoured by the Queen with the Order of British Empire (OBE)
for her services to the NHS and community. She became the Specialist Midwife for
Inherited Blood Disorders in 2004 and was part of the North West Regional
trainers. She took active part in the implementation of universal screen for
haemoglobinopathies in her unit. She offers support and counselling for women
who have been circumcised (Female Genital Mutilation) and ensures they get
appropriate quality care. She is the Chair of Liverpool FGM/Multi-Cultural
Women’s Advisory Group.
She is actively involved in the equality issues as the Lead for Equality and
Diversity Lead. She represents the Trust at the Single Equality Scheme Learning
Sites for the Department of Health. She is also responsible for the Equality and
Diversity training.
As a Supervisor of Midwives, she does not only ensure safety of mothers and
babies but also has a great interest in encouraging midwives to develop
themselves and giving support as necessary.
She is an active member of the Royal College of Midwives and was on the RCM
Council for 7 years but is now on the RCM (England) Board.
She is very involved in the community and believes that health should be equal
to all. She also believes that as professionals, we can reduce the “gap of
Inequalities in health”.
She enjoys reading and most of her spare time is spent with fellow Christians
and different community groups.
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Alison is a specialist midwife at Heart of England NHS Trust which incorporates Heartlands Hospital,
Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital. Since 2002 Alison has ran The African Well Women's Service for women who have undergone FGM.
The service is designed to support pregnant and non pregnant women whom have had FGM.
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Aderonke Gilbertson RN RM.
Aderonke qualified as a nurse in Nigeria and the UK. Since she qualified as a midwife in 1991 she has practiced in all areas of midwifery and took the Foundation Course in Critical Care for Obstetric Patients 2006. She is involved in mentoring and assessing students during their placements.
In the last few years Aderonke (‘Ronnie’) has worked with the Specialist Midwife in Inherited Blood Disorders. For some years she has been concerned with female genital mutilation (FGM). She is a member of the Liverpool FGM Group and has been actively involved in organising conferences in Liverpool and London.
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I am a Professor of Midwifery at the University of Manchester and St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester.
I am an experienced researcher with a number of research interests, which focus on women’s expectations,
experiences and outcomes. Much of this work is International, through partnerships with groups such
as the African Midwives Research Network.
Although not a specialist in FGM, I actively seek to improve women’s lives through research, education
and practice. My main role within the FGM group is to lead the national research strategy.
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Carol is a Consultant Midwife and Supervisor of Midwives at Nottingham University Hospitals.
Having worked in the Middle East and Africa as a midwife, Carol's substantial experience had
enabled her to set up a pathway and service for woman in Nottingham who have undergone FGM.
The clinic was established in 2006. She also provides interagency links and training on FGM.
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Comfort Momoh, RN, RM, FPN, BSc MSc
Comfort Momoh is a FGM Consultant/Public Health Specialist and has is a staunch campaigner for the eradication of FGM.
Comfort established and runs the African Well Woman’s Clinic at Guy’s and St Thomas Foundation Trust in London,
this is a support service for women and girls who have undergone FGM. The clinic provides counselling, advice,
support, information and surgical reversal of FGM As a result Comfort was awarded became the first ever
nurse/midwife of the year by the Trust in 2003.
Comfort is an expert in the field, she is well known both nationally and internationally, providing
training, workshop, seminars and conferences.
Comfort has served as a temporary consultant with The World Health Organisation, and is Chairperson
for the Black Women’s Health and Family supports (A non-governmental organisation working and supporting
the community), and vice-president for EURONET (European Network on FGM).
Recently Comfort has edited a book on FGM.
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Dr. Joanne Topping MB ChB FRCOG (Treasurer)
I am a Consultant Obstetrician at Liverpool Women's Hospital. Liverpool Women's
is one of the largest purpose built maternity units in Europe delivering approximately
8000 women a year. When planning the services at the new hospital we were lucky that
to an extent the needs of our established multicultural community was recognised and
an antenatal clinic established to serve our ethnic minority population. I am lucky
to work with a great multidisciplinary team within this clinic and thus tend to see
most of the women who have undergone female genital mutilation.
Whilst supporting those who work hard to abolish FGM, my main focus is teaching doctors
and midwives how to support those women who have already undergone FGM and offer training
to all staff in the techniques used to " open " women to allow for safer delivery.
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Dorothy Lee Zack-Williams, RN, RM, HV, CPE, BSc (Hons), MSc Ethics in Health Care
I am currently working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist Lead for Haemoglobinopathies (Sickle Cell Anaemia, Thalasaemia, & G6PD Deficiency) for Liverpool PCT, Merseyside. I am also Associate Lecturer at Liverpool University, Honorary Lecture at Liverpool John Moores University and Edge Hill University.
I have worked with women in the various communities in Liverpool and through my work, I became sensitised to the issues around FGM. Together with other women, we were able to set up the Multicultural Advisory Group to support, educate and train women in community and to raise awareness of health issues identified by these women. We convened a number of conferences leading to the setting up of a clinic for women suffering the effects of FGM at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
I have worked with sickle cell sufferers for many years in the community and have given support towards raising awareness, founding of support groups and general fund raising. I am currently a member of the Research Adult Ethics Committee, where we scrutinise research applications involving adults in the Northwest of England.
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I am Professor of Sociology at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston and Vice-President
of the African Studies Association of the United Kingdom. I have published extensively on Africa and the African Diaspora.
I have worked with local groups of multicultural women in raising awareness of the problems surrounding FGM.
I feel that I can bring a radical sociological perspective to the discourse on FGM.
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