Rachel Carter

Director of Midwifery/ Deputy Chief Nurse – Women’s (Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital NHSFT)

Specialist Advisor to the CQC

Rachel commenced training as a midwife in 1992 and has been in post at BWCH since 2019, having worked at BWCH previously for 17 years (from student midwife to Community Midwifery Manager). She has all round midwifery experience as a hospital, community and integrated midwife before progressing to Senior Midwife where she was the senior responsible officer for a new build birth center. She then progressed in her career gaining General Management experience before becoming Head of Midwifery and then on to her current post as Director of Midwifery and Deputy Chief Nurse (Women’s). Rachel has progressed her career in 3 different regional Acute Trusts, achieving MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice and leading transformation of maternity and neonatal Clinical governance; implementing the National Maternity Safety agenda from ward to Board, drawing on insight gained to drive improvements in quality and safety across maternity, neonatal and Gynaecology services.

Rachel is passionate about ensuring all women and family’s voices are at the heart of women’s health and maternity care, with a focus on safe, personalized care and a team that is skilled, engaged and empowered. In April 2023 Rachel received a Gold Chief Midwifery Officers Award, presented by Jacque Dunkley Bent in recognition of “Outstanding and exceptional achievements and performance in midwifery and maternity leadership”.