A Few Minutes With our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Research Midwife
Meet Natalie Reynolds, the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Research Midwife at our Women's Hospital. 
In a nutshell, explain what your job entails?
"I work as an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Research Midwife, supporting a wide range of research studies at our Women’s Hospital.
These include international commercial studies, observational studies, current and new medication comparison and genetic research involving blood samples.
I will support interventional studies that address gaps in our medical knowledge about the safest and most effective ways to deliver care.
An example of this is the PANDA study, which aims to prevent anaemia and reduce the risk of preterm birth and other adverse outcomes.
For research data and the evidence it generates, to truly improve care for everyone,
our research participants must reflect the population we serve. When participation is limited to certain groups, the resulting evidence only benefits those who are already represented, reinforcing rather than reducing health inequalities.
A core part of my role is therefore to promote inclusive, equitable research by improving access, building trust and supporting informed participation among communities who have historically been underrepresented in research.
Research has the potential to deliver real benefits for individuals and communities and an important aspect of my work is helping people understand its value and relevance to their own care.
No two days are the same. My role involves community engagement beyond the hospital, reviewing how studies are chosen and delivered so they are accessible, understandable and culturally sensitive.
I work closely with interpreters and ensure women’s voices shape how research is communicated and delivered. I also monitor and transparently report participation data to understand what is working and where we need to improve."
Why did you choose your career?
"I moved from publishing into midwifery more than 10 years ago and loved the relationship based care of case loading midwifery. Over time, I became motivated by the potential of research to influence care beyond individual encounters, helping to improve maternity services and outcomes for entire communities."
What achievement are you most proud of (so far)?
"I’m most proud of strengthening our work with the Cultural Inclusion Team and interpreters to make research more accessible for our non English-speaking patients. Through training and closer collaboration, we’ve improved consent rates from nine to 17 per cent, for those whose
first language is not English, ensuring more women can make fully informed choices. It’s rewarding to see our team creating a model of truly inclusive research that not many
organisations achieve."
Who would you say was your inspiration?
"I don't think I have one person to nominate, there have been some great managers over my time and different people who've encouraged me to be the best I can. The research team is really supportive of what we are trying to achieve and we've already seen an improvement in representation since we started to focus on this."
If there was one thing you could change in the world, what would it be?
"I would like experiences of care not to be dependent upon where you were born, the colour of your skin, what additional needs you have but for all birthing people to have safe, culturally sensitive and positive experiences of their pregnancy and birth at the start of their life as parents."
Describe yourself in three words?
"Curious, caring and a not-so-secret cabbage lover!"
Finally, not a lot of people know this about me but…
"I lived in Italy for six years."