Please tell us about yourself
Hello, my name is Lynn Tilley. I qualified as a midwife in 1991.
I am married with 2 grown up children.
I enjoy walks along our beautiful Northumberland coast and dining out with friends and family. I also enjoy reading and cookery to relax.
Please tell us about your role at NHS Resolution
I am the Safety and Learning Lead (Early Notification Team). I joined NHS Resolution on secondment in 2020 and then substantively from 2021.
My role involves working with the Obstetric and Neonatal Fellows to complete clinical reviews of Early Notification (EN) cases in order to assess the care provided. I contribute to the production of illustrative case stories which reflect some of the themes we identify through our clinical reviews. The case stories are published on NHS Resolution website to support clinicians learning. I am also involved in the development of an immersive e-learning module based on case stories.
I have helped to establish the Maternity Voices Advisory Group which seeks feedback from families, through representative stakeholders, regarding their experience of the EN Scheme in order to drive forward any improvement initiatives.
I am the regional lead for London and have enjoyed opportunities to provide trusts with learning from thematic analyses of incidents they have reported to the EN scheme in order to help inform their future quality and safety initiatives. I have also shared learning from my experience at NHS Resolution at a clinical negligence conference, including an update on changes to the EN Scheme.
I love working at NHS Resolution and enjoy the different aspects of my role.
Please describe your midwifery background
I have a broad range of midwifery experience, both clinical and in a managerial capacity. The bulk of my clinical career was hospital-based, mostly on a labour ward. I progressed to the role of Matron with responsibility for the obstetric unit and free standing midwifery led units and then community midwifery teams at different points in time.
I was a Supervisor of Midwives for a number of years, prior to its transition to Professional Midwifery Advocate, and have always enjoyed supporting midwives through their career. I loved seeing them achieve personal goals and overcome challenges.
I was Interim Head of Midwifery and also had a governance role before leaving to join NHS Resolution.
I have been very fortunate to have had a number of development opportunities, completing a BSc in Midwifery Studies and an MSc in Healthcare Management.
What inspired you to become a midwife?
I always wanted to be a midwife and started my career with that intention. I was fascinated by childbirth and how babies develop in utero.
After completing my nurse training which included a brief placement in maternity, I knew that midwifery was the next step for me. I loved being able to support women and felt very privileged to be part of such an amazing experience for so many.
I have never regretted that decision and am very fortunate to have worked with many incredible midwives, who were inspiring role models.
Why is it so important to have colleagues working with a clinical background at NHS Resolution?
I think it is really important to have a clinical perspective on claims due to the insight the clinicians can bring to any review. The clinical team understands the systems and processes in which care is provided and will have an awareness of the challenges these sometimes pose. Clinical knowledge can help to identify any elements of care that contribute to a poor outcome and evaluate the care against national guidance.
Having trainees rotate into the team is an excellent way of disseminating the learning from the claims at NHS Resolution back into clinical teams, and to help to inform safety initiatives. It also helps to influence their practice moving forward.
Why do you think your midwifery experience brings value to your role at NHS Resolution?
My midwifery experience helps to inform every aspect of my role. I have an awareness of the challenges clinical teams face. My clinical knowledge is used to provide a view on the care that is provided, underpinned by my own experience and skills.
I am aware of national ambitions and how these are supported through key initiatives such as the Maternity Incentive Scheme. I can empathise with the clinical teams and understand their anxieties when they are involved in an incident. My experience of working with families, supporting them and providing them with answers to their questions is hugely important to me.
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