Wendy Ainsworth

Wendy Ainsworth RM, RGN, BSc Hons, PGCHE, MSc

Senior Lecturer, Midwifery

Wendy Ainsworth is a Senior Lecturer for Midwifery in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Greenwich.

Prior to her role with the University of Greenwich she had an NHS career within acute and community midwifery practice, encompassing unit management, statutory supervision of midwives, practice development and as a midwifery practitioner within Public Health England (PHE).

Wendy's previous experience in statutory midwifery supervision and examination of the newborn, equips her to support practice programmes within both academic and clinical practice settings.

In her current post as a senior midwifery lecturer since 2015, she is course leader for two pre-registration courses on the BSc Hons Midwifery programme: Introduction to Midwifery Practice; Learning and Teaching in Practice. She acts as Personal tutor and provides teaching for undergraduate midwifery, nursing & paramedic programmes and postgraduate midwifery. Wendy also provides dissertation supervision for BSc and post-registration students and as Link tutor support for both midwifery students and mentors within Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

Her teaching areas and professional interests include: critical care in midwifery; early pregnancy complications; simulated team management of emergencies during child bearing; the ethical basis of practice; decision making in clinical practice; care and compassion in clinical practice; the role of mentors in student assessment puerperal evaluation; and the extended role of the midwife.

Wendy has additional credentials in Patient Group Direction (PGD) Infection Control; PGD Emergency Planning & Business Continuity; Independent and Supplementary Nurse Prescriber and; Neonatal New-born Examiner.

Posts held previously:

  • 2010-15 Senior Matron (gynaecology and early pregnancy services), GWH Wiltshire
  • 2007-10 Senior Health Protection Nurse and Midwifery Practitioner, Public Health England
  • 2004-07 Practice Education Facilitator, Strategic Health Authority
  • 1992-2007 Senior Midwife and Midwife Supervisor, Wilts PCT & NHS Trust

Responsibilities within the university

  • Senior Lecturer, Midwifery
  • Leads two pre-registration courses, the BSc Hons Midwifery programme: Introduction to Midwifery Practice; Learning and Teaching in Practice
  • Lecturer for undergraduate and postgraduate midwifery and nursing & paramedic programs 
  • Supervision for BSc and Post-registration student dissertations
  • Link tutor for midwifery students and mentors within Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
  • Personal tutor

Research / Scholarly interests

Wendy's research interest is critical care in midwifery and advanced puerperal midwifery practice within education and public health.