Speakers

Lead Pelvic Health Physiotherapist for Maternity & Pelvic Health at Hillingdon Hospital, Lecturer & MASIC Trustee

Samantha Vincent currently works for Hillingdon Hospital as part of a multidisciplinary team working within a Perinatal Pelvic Health Clinic. This clinic she has set up from inception in June 2022 and is currently treating patients within this clinic with complex pelvic floor dysfunction. Her and her team are working hard towards obtaining an endoanal scanner, manometry facilities and training in these skills to be able to offer this gold standard method of devising next mode of delivery with women who have sustained an OASI tear at Hillingdon. In addition to her clinical practice she lectures on the undergraduate BSc Physiotherapy program at St Marys University. Sam is now a Trustee for the MASIC Foundation.

Samantha is the lead pelvic health physiotherapist for Maternity and Pelvic Health at Hillingdon Hospital, one of the leading ‘Early Implementer’ sites for the NHS Transformation programme. She has been instrumental in the set up of this clinic from its inception in June 2022 and treats patients within this clinic with complex pelvic floor dysfunction. Samantha has been a guest speaker for the International Urogynecological Association, the Bladder and Bowel Foundation and the International Continence Society. In addition to her clinical practice, she is a senior lecturer for the BSc Physiotherapy programme at St Marys University, is part of an expert panel on guidelines for Paediatric Pelvic Floor Assessment and Management, is a Trustee for the registered charity Mothers with Anal Sphincter Injuries Charity (MASIC) and has set up 'The Pelvic Floor School' co-founded with Hannah Beecham - aiming to establish Pelvic Health Education into PSHE in secondary schools.

Geeta Nayar is a Senior Associate Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, Advocate for The MASIC Foundation and Birth Trauma Association, and Make Birth Better Champion.  

Geeta trained with Irwin Mitchell and qualified as a solicitor in 2002. She was promoted to Associate in 2005 and specialised in neurotrauma and birth injury medical negligence cases representing both adults and children. She worked closely with several charities to support injured clients including Headway, Vice-chair of UKABIF (United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum) and co-founded the London Acquired Brain Injury Forum (ABIL). 

During the birth of her first child, Geeta sustained life-changing obstetric injuries and had to undergo extensive medical treatment. As a result of her journey she has become a strong advocate for women with severe perineal and maternal injuries. Geeta has been closely involved with The MASIC Foundation since it launched to improve the prevention and detection of OASI (obstetric anal sphincter injuries) and speaks widely about her own experience and the long -term impact to give visibility to women with these devastating injuries. Geeta returned to Irwin Mitchell in 2023 to collaborate with healthcare professionals, charity partners and policy makers to drive positive change in maternity care.  

In February 2024 Geeta shared her experience as an expert in maternity safety in the first national inquiry into birth trauma in the history of UK Parliament. Geeta's testimony, alongside other key stakeholders underscored the urgent need for improved maternity care practices and increased awareness surrounding birth trauma. 

Geeta is also passionate about health equity and organised the inaugural South Asian Maternal Health Conference in June 2024 at the RCOG to address disparities in care and create meaningful change in maternal outcomes for South Asian women. 

Jo Page is a Service User Lead working alongside the Perinatal Pelvic Health Services team.

Jo sustained an OASI injury and has lived experience of how an injury like this can impact your life.

She also works closely with MASIC and runs the Kent Support Group 

Jo works hard raising awareness amongst professionals to help them understand the long term impact after a birth injury, highlighting the importance of the Perinatal Pelvic Health Services and honoured to work alongside Programme Manager Caroline-Potter-Edward’s and Physio Clinical Head Donna Meers to help ensure the right help is available.

Caroline Potter-Edwards is a Commissioning Programme Manager at NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, leading the development of Perinatal Pelvic Health Services across the county in alignment with NHS England’s national service specification. She has extensive experience in commissioning both adult and children’s mental health services, with particular expertise in perinatal mental health programme management through her recent work within the Kent Health Visiting Service.

Caroline is deeply committed to improving the perinatal experience for women and families. Alongside Physiotherapy Clinical Lead Donna Meers and Service User Lead Jo Page, she is excited to share the progress and collaborative efforts underway in Kent and Medway to enhance Perinatal Pelvic Health Services.

Clinical Lead Pelvic Health Physiotherapist at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in Kent

Donna Meers is a Clinical Lead Pelvic Health Physiotherapist at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in Kent, leading a small team of Pelvic Health Physiotherapists supporting urogynaecological, colorectal and maternity services. Within this role, Donna leads on the Physiotherapy-led Perineal Clinic providing 1:1 appointments for our patients who have sustained a 3rd or 4th degree tear. Donna is also currently providing clinical leadership to support the development of Perinatal Pelvic Health Services across the county in alignment with NHS England’s national service specification.

Donna has worked in a range of specialty areas in her 20 years of NHS service, specialising in Pelvic Health since 2016, working across both acute (inpatient) and outpatient services. She is passionate and deeply committed to supporting people in improving their quality of life by managing their pelvic health symptoms and raising population awareness of Pelvic Health.  Alongside Programme Manager Caroline Potter-Edwards and Service User Lead Jo Page, she is excited to share the progress and collaborative efforts underway in Kent and Medway to enhance Perinatal Pelvic Health Services.

Professor Julie Cornish - Colorectal Consultant, Professor of Surgery (Hon) Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Chair in waiting- The Pelvic Floor Society & MASIC Trustee  in Cardiff, with a subspecialty interest in pelvic health. She is the Founder of the Everywoman Festival; a women's health festival aiming to educate and empower women and girls (everywomanfest.com)

Julie trained in Wales and London, with an MD from Imperial College and a pelvic floor fellowship in Oxford. She is the Secretary for the Pelvic Floor Society and a Trustee of the MASIC Foundation. She is the lead for Pelvic Health for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and established the Pelvic Health Hub as part of this.

Her research interests focus on outcomes after surgery, in particular bowel dysfunction after surgery and outcomes after childbirth injury and she regularly presents both internationally and nationally. She is the chief investigator for the NIHR POLARiS study and POLO study, the Research lead for the surgical board in Cardiff and Vale and a member of the ASGBI research committee.

Professor Bob Freeman is a Consultant in Urogynaecology University Hospitals Plymouth, and Hon Professor Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry.

Bob qualified in medicine from Dundee University in 1977 and while working in Urology there, researched the psychological aspects of overactive bladder for which he obtained his MD London in the early 1980’s.

As a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Plymouth he has set up a clinical and research Urogynaecology unit which has studied clinically important issues including the prevention of postpartum stress incontinence, the complications of incontinence surgery, the reasons for failure of prolapse surgery and the effects of weight loss on urinary incontinence. The unit is an RCOG approved centre for subspecialty training and is British Society of Urogynaecology accredited.

Several team members have obtained MD’s and a PhD from Plymouth University and as a result of his supervision and work, Bob was awarded an Honorary Professorship.

He, with others, raised concern about the rising incidence of OASI and helped the RCOG and RCM produce a ‘Care Bundle’ for prevention which was piloted in 16 centres with good results. Following this he helped set up a new collaborative group to identify women at-risk of obstetric pelvic floor dysfunction and was initially involved with the UR-CHOICE risk assessment.

He is a co-inventor of the Episcissors-60 which were developed in Plymouth.

Bob was a scientific editor for the International Urogynaecology Journal and before that for the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

He helped form the British Society of Urogynaecology as founding Secretary in 2001, and subsequently became Chairman.

He was elected Vice-President of the International Urogynaecological Association (IUGA) by its members in 2013, became President in 2015 and completed his term on the Board last year.

He is now education chairman for the MASIC Foundation.

Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist and owner of Gillian McCabe Physio & Station House Health & Wellbeing

Gillian qualified as a physiotherapist from the University of the West of England (Bristol) in 2004. She started her physiotherapy career in the NHS and worked in health boards across South Wales during the 12 years before she made the move into private practice. In 2006, Gillian specialised in women's health in Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, working in the areas of maternity inpatients and urogynaecological outpatients. Gillian achieved a master's degree in pelvic health physiotherapy from the University of Bradford in 2015, and in 2016, Gillian set up her private pelvic health physiotherapy practice which offers pelvic health physiotherapy services for women of any age from 18 years upwards. Gillian now runs Station House Health & Wellbeing which is a busy centre providing a range of therapeutic and health services for the public, including; physiotherapy, counselling & psychotherapy, personal training, massage therapy, aesthetics, reflexology, acupuncture, midwifery services, mum & baby services, nutrition, sports therapy, baby sleep consultant, scar therapy and fascial manipulation. Gillian also supports other physiotherapists in private practice through education, mentoring and workshops. 

You can find out more about her services and the team that works with her at www.gillianmccabe.co.uk & at www.stationhouse.health

You can also follow her services on social media:

Facebook: @gillianmcphysio

Instagram: @gillian_mcphysio

Dr. Aziza Sesay is a GP, Educator, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer and medical broadcaster celebrated for her contributions to health education, awareness, and advocacy. As the founder of "Talks with Dr. Sesay," she empowers audiences with evidence-based health information, focusing on women’s health, cancer awareness, mental health, and health inequity. Dr. Sesay serves as Vice Chair and Creative Director of Black Female Doctors UK and is an Ambassador for leading health charities, including The Eve Appeal and Wellbeing of Women. Featured in major media outlets, she is a regular GP on BBC Breakfast. She has also collaborated with numerous organisations including NHS England, the Department of Health, YouTube Health, and WHO, contributing to national and global public health campaigns. Recognised with the prestigious Point of Light Award and others, Dr. Sesay is a trusted voice in healthcare, committed to improving outcomes and addressing health inequities.

Dr Harriet Ball is a Perinatal Clinical Psychologist working in the Nottinghamshire Perinatal Trauma and Bereavement Service and the Perinatal Community Mental Health Service within Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. She supports people who have experienced birth trauma, perinatal loss, or a severe fear of childbirth. Harriet is trained in EMDR therapy and also draws on Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in her work. She is passionate about creating a safe and supportive space for people during their perinatal journey.

Rachel Croll is the Specialist Midwife in trauma-informed care for the Trauma & Bereavement Service. Her role is to support and empower birthing people who have experienced physical and emotional trauma, bereavement and fear of childbirth in the perinatal period . 

Rachel has been working as a midwife for over 10 years and was an intensive care nurse prior to this. She is passionate about women and birthing people and improving maternity service. 

Leena Savjani is a Partner at national law firm Irwin Mitchell and a specialist in medical negligence law with over 19 years of experience in the field. She has acted on some of the most complex and sensitive cases in the field, often involving serious injury and systemic failings in healthcare.

Leena has a particular expertise in maternal injury cases, including those involving obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) where she is recognized for her compassionate client care and deep understanding of the long-term impact on women’s lives. Known for her rigorous legal mind, empathy, and unwavering commitment to her clients, she is a trusted advocate for driving accountability and improving maternity safety.

Sarah Edge is an accredited BACP (British Association for Counsellors) Psychotherapist, that specialises in providing person-centered counselling and psychotherapy for pregnant and postnatal women and people, including mothers and birthing parents of older children, online, by phone and face to face from Thrive Wellbeing Hub in Sale, Manchester.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maternal-Mental-Health-Journal-Sarah