NHS England has announced that Kate Brintworth has been appointed to the role of chief midwifery officer for England.

Brintworth will lead the team in delivering the three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services working alongside Matthew Jolly, national clinical director for women’s health, and Duncan Burton, deputy chief nursing officer for England – Delivery and Transformation Programme.

Brintworth has been a midwife for 26 years and is currently the chief midwife for NHS England in the London region. She is set to join the national team in June.

Kate Brintworth said: “I am delighted to have been given this honour and look forward to working with our fantastic midwifery teams, clinical colleagues, families, the royal colleges and the many organisations who care about the future of maternity services to make pregnancy and birth the equitable, safe and joyous experience we all want it to be.

“Being a midwife continues to be a huge privilege for me, so the opportunity to support our teams to help pregnant women and families across England as they go through this profound time in their lives makes it the most incredible opportunity”.

Chief nursing officer for England, Dame Ruth May, said: “Providing safer and more personalised maternity care and ensuring every woman, no matter where they live in England, is provided with the very best care before, during and after their pregnancy is crucial and a central part of this role.

“I’m delighted to welcome Kate into this role. Her extensive and varied experience are an absolute asset and I look forward to seeing the impact she will make as part of the national NHS England team when she takes up the post in June”.

Image: NHS England