Our private service is available across London and in the surrounding counties including parts of Surrey, Kent, Berkshire and Hampshire and our aim is to establish more Neighbourhood Midwives' practices throughout the country.
Alongside our private practice, we are working towards being commissioned to provide our care within the NHS. Our passionate ambition is to enable the choice of a high quality, safe and sustainable caseload midwifery service to be available for all women, regardless of their ability to pay.
We are an employee-owned midwifery mutual where every employee has a say in how we develop through ‘one member one vote’ and representation at board level. We are also a recognised social enterprise – which means we are a business with a clear social aim, who commits any surplus we make back into helping the business grow and achieve that social aim.
Take a look at our team biographies below to meet the people involved.
Midwives
Cheryl Opimo-Fisher
To say that I am passionate about my vocation is an understatement. I never cease to be amazed and humbled by the miracle of the human body and women’s natural ability to birth and nurture their babies. I am constantly reminded of the sheer honour to be a part of this precious, intimate and life-affirming period of a new family’s beginning. It is the very essence of why I am a midwife.
Aside from having my two gorgeous sons, who are amazing, the next best thing I’ve ever done is to train as a midwife, initially in South Africa, where midwifery is highly medicalised, and more recently, retraining in the UK where I experienced the world of woman-centered care for the first time.
After two years as a homebirth midwife, I have gravitated to Neighbourhood Midwives as they offer me an unparalleled opportunity to bond with women and their families from day one, and to see them right through to the joyous end. I have always strived to empower women to achieve the birth they want through education, care and support. Pregnancy and birth is not just a physiological event. It is a life changing, emotional roller-coaster for each individual woman. As the word ‘midwife’ derives from the Nordic phrase ‘with woman’, my job is to truly be with her!
I live in West Drayton, part of the London Borough of Hillingdon, west of London, and roughly cover all areas from Windsor to Richmond and Watford to Cobham. To find out if I am the right midwife for you, give me a ring on 07866 899290 for an initial chat and to arrange a free consultation.
Jill
I began my journey as a midwife 18 years ago. It was a hugely proud moment and one of my greatest achievements along with the birth of my two sons.
My passion is supporting women through the most extraordinary journey of their lives as they make the transition to parenthood. I feel very privileged to have shared so many journeys as a caseload midwife within the NHS. My last role was as a community coordinator supporting women and midwives and a dedicated team of maternity support workers to provide breastfeeding support and advice and continuity during the early days and weeks with the new families in Southampton
I believe in continuity of carer and the importance of empowering women to make choices that are right for them. I feel passionate that all women should be able to have continuity of a midwife they know and trust who is their advocate and guide to enable them to give birth to a healthy baby in a safe and satisfying way in the place of their choice.
I feel very excited now to be joining such a passionate team of midwives working with Neighbourhood midwives and look forward to sharing many more journeys with the women and families in my care
I am also a keen walker and support many charities and hope later this year to walk 100km along the Thames Path as part of action challenge to raise money and awareness.
I currently cover Hampshire, the M3 corridor, South London and South East London areas. To find out if I might be the right midwife for you, give me a ring on 07809744942 for an initial chat and to arrange a free consultation.
Leonie Bryan
I changed my life to be a Midwife.
My biggest drive and ethos as a Midwife is to build a relationship of mutual trust and respect supporting and sharing your family’s personal and special journey through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
I want to help you empower yourself, access evidence-based information and make well informed decisions about your choices. I want to give you time to be listened to, to advocate for you, and for you to know that I will be there for you every step of the way.
I have been involved in many different roles within the maternity world. From becoming a mother, twice, to providing care as a support worker and as a midwife working across 3 NHS London Trusts.
I am experienced across a broad spectrum of maternity, providing individualised care in the community, including attending homebirths as well as having an excellent understanding of hospital settings and being skilled at supporting women in achieving positive caesarian births.
I am passionate about women and families achieving a happy and positive birth journey whatever path that takes.
I am proud to say that my role within Neighbourhood Midwives is unique, as I offer my services as part of a duo alongside Tess. Together we cover South London and some parts of Kent and Surrey. If you would like to chat about the care we can offer please call 07866 900659 to arrange an initial consultation.
Monica Fox
Becoming a mother and a midwife are two of my most treasured achievements and experiences. I had a hospital birth, then a water birth at home. Over the years, having heard about some of my friends’ birth experiences, I decided to train as a midwife because I knew I could really make a difference to the women and families I cared for. I continue to be inspired watching a woman become a mother and a man become a father, for the first time, second time, third time or more.
After working within the NHS, I came to Neighbourhood Midwives, where every woman we care for, receives the continuity of care that they deserve. This type of care enables the women and their families to build a trusting partnership with me, which in turn gives me the tools needed to fully support her with her wishes. This close bond women have with their midwife will help her to achieve the best possible outcome for her, her baby and her family. I love being a midwife and feel truly privileged to being a part of this amazing and intimate experience.
I cover North West, North and North East of London and South Hertfordshire. To find out if I cover your area and that I am the right midwife for you, please give me a ring on 07880 315471 for an initial chat and to arrange a free consultation.
Natalie Shearman
Being a midwife is without doubt the best job in the world. It never ceases to amaze me the strength a woman has, in mind and body, to grow, nurture and birth her baby. It is truly a privilege to be part of this journey and witness it first-hand.
Pregnancy, through to birth, and beyond to early motherhood is a magical time for women and their families, but it can also be daunting. Having a midwife who is known to you, whom you can build a trusting relationship with and receive continuity of care from, will give you the confidence and reassurance to enable you to have a positive birth experience. This is something I am very passionate about, and believe the fundamental elements for a positive experience are supporting, educating and empowering women. The word 'midwife', in Old English, means 'with woman' and it is this core aspect that I always strive for, along with an holistic approach to the care I provide.
Having spent some time working in the NHS, I began searching for an alternative way of working that would enable me to work closely alongside women and offer true continuity of care, and with Neighbourhood Midwives I can do just that.
I am passionate about normal birth, and supporting you in your chosen place of birth, wherever that may be. I have experience with water births and in using Aromatherapy, and have a keen interest in other complementary therapies.
I cover West and North West London. To find out if I might be the right midwife for you, give me a ring on 07585 129175 for an initial chat and to arrange a free consultation.
Nicky Harris
I have been a midwife for 27 years. A year after qualifying my husband Chris and I had the first of four lovely children: one hospital birth and the other three at home.
I have worked both in the NHS and independent sectors, within hospitals and the community – and even in Egypt! Mostly though, I have worked in the community providing homebirth care.
The name “midwife” means “with woman” and I absolutely love this core aspect of midwifery. It’s a privilege to journey with a woman and her family through this important passage of life.
My passion is supporting women and babies through the postnatal period. Although this is a crucial part of a family’s experience, it has often been a neglected part of midwifery care. I am thrilled that with Neighbourhood Midwives, I can provide continuity and effective care for women and their families to give the best start in their journey into parenthood.
In 2013 I qualified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) which is the gold standard for breastfeeding support. I believe every woman should have access to skilled breastfeeding support, from birth, to optimise the experience for those who choose to breastfeed.
In my spare time, I have an allotment, love gardening and am involved in lots of activities at church.
I am mainly available for postnatal care packages and breastfeeding support. The area I cover is South London. To find out if I am the right midwife for you, give me a ring on 07935435903 for an initial chat and to arrange a free consultation.
Rene Bozier
I ran my own successful independent midwife practice in South East London for nine years before joining Neighbourhood Midwives, with many clients returning again...and again...and again! I continue to practise as a midwife (162 babies and counting!) and am thrilled to be involved in the development of Neighbourhood Midwives in my position as Employee Director.
I particularly enjoy providing support & guidance to student midwives as they make the transition into fully fledged practitioners. Employee ownership is a new way of working for midwives and I believe a very exciting time for the profession as a whole. When I'm not working I like spending time with my four children and seven grandchildren (five of whom I delivered) and my three dogs (none of whom I delivered!)
I cover South East London and North West Kent. To find out if I might be the right midwife for you, give me a ring on 07585 129055 for an initial chat and to arrange a free consultation.
Sarah Graham
Becoming a midwife is absolutely the most rewarding thing I have ever done. To be welcomed by a woman and her family to share such a special and intimate time in their lives is truly a privilege. Each woman and each pregnancy is unique and it is such a joy to support and nurture each woman on her journey to become a mother.
I feel strongly that pregnancy, birth and early motherhood should be a positive experience. I firmly believe that building a strong relationship with a midwife that you know and trust can contribute hugely to this. Having a trusted midwife by your side can ensure that your care is tailored specifically to your needs and that you are consistently placed at the centre of the decision making. I am passionate about providing safe and individualised care, so that each woman is given the space to birth her baby in her own way.
As a trainee midwife I was lucky enough to experience the absolute joy of ‘caseloading’, where the woman is seen by the same midwife throughout her pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. It was hugely satisfying to support these women throughout their whole journey and to see them develop into confident mothers by the time they were discharged. This, for me, is the essence of midwifery and I feel passionately that all women should experience this type of care.
I have worked in two busy NHS hospitals where I cared for women experiencing both uncomplicated and slightly more complex pregnancies. Whilst I enjoyed working as a midwife in the NHS, my dream was to find a job that enabled me to work in partnership with women and their families and to build close and trusting relationships. Neighbourhood Midwives was the perfect fit for me.
I am based in SW London. You can contact me on 07876233048 for an initial chat and to arrange a free consultation..
Sarah Horner
I don't remember the precise moment I first knew I wanted to be a midwife: Midwifery is just something that I always remember being drawn to. I was endlessly curious as a child, always asking questions about anything and everything, and I remember being particularly fascinated by babies (and where they came from, much to the exasperation of my parents). That fascination continues to this day, as I love learning about both new developments and research in the understanding of pregnancy, as well as traditional knowledge which we are only now coming to realise has significant value.
My core belief, and the foundation of my midwifery practice, is that pregnancy and birth are normal life events that deserve awe and respect. I am continually amazed by the power of women- mind and body- and I do everything I can to help those that I care for to recognise and trust that power. From that, you can probably tell that I'm passionate about normal birth, but I'm also incredibly passionate about the journey of pregnancy, birth and motherhood being a positive experience- however that journey unfolds. I truly believe that positivity in birth comes from knowledge and trust existing between women, their bodies, and the people that care for them.
Since completing my training, I have worked in the NHS as a caseloading midwife, but when the opportunity to become a Neighbourhood Midwife arose, I knew I had to take it. I am passionate about the NHS, but being a Neighbourhood Midwife gives me the opportunity to be the midwife I always dreamed of being. I am so excited to be working with such a wonderful, supportive team of like-minded Midwives to be able to practice true continuity of care!
I cover North London. To find out if I am the right midwife for you, give me a ring on 07584 994 201 for an initial chat and to arrange a free consultation.
Sharon Gamon
I see my midwifery qualification as one of the proudest achievements in my life, along with the birth of my five children! I have been a midwife since 2005 and feel hugely privileged to have been the guardian to many a new life coming into this world, including my seven gorgeous grandchildren. I am a passionate midwife who believes that every woman's journey is hers to own.
I am only here to guide and support her and to provide personalised care, tailored to the individual needs of each woman and her family. I feel truly blessed every time I am invited to share the wonderful journey into parenthood with a couple. Neighbourhood Midwives is an amazing organisation to be a part of and we all believe that every woman should have the choice to birth "her baby, her way" in a safe and calm environment.
I live near Southampton but travel up to London for part of the week and cover South West London and the M3 corridor. To find out if I might be the right midwife for you, give me a ring on 07866 899763 for an initial chat and to arrange a free consultation.
Tess McLeish
I trained as a midwife after the birth of my four children - for me it is a calling that ultimately I couldn’t ignore - I knew I could make a positive difference for women and their families, and help to smooth some of the wrinkles in the path to new parenthood. My midwifery degree from kings College London, along with the birth of my four children was the proudest achievement of my life so far. I have been a birth-worker since 2004, and a registered midwife since 2015.
I believe it is a privilege to be invited to share a woman’s journey through pregnancy, labour, birth and early days, and the baby’s journey to the world – whether this is for the first, second, third time or more – and that having a midwife who is known to you, with whom you can build a trusting relationship to share that journey can give you confidence and reassurance to help you have a positive birth experience.
I came to neighbourhood midwives from a busy South East London NHS hospital where I cared for women with both highly complex and very straightforward pregnancies. I am equally comfortable with homebirth, water-birth or caesarean birth and I would like to support you to have whatever type of birth suits you and your baby best.
Along with my partner Leonie we cover South East London and some parts of Kent and Surrey.
Tracey Hince
Midwifery has always been a huge passion of mine, and since qualifying 15 years ago I have been extremely fortunate to be at so many lovely births, watching each one’s beautifully unique (and sometimes challenging!) story progress and unfold.
I see pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period as one of the most vital cornerstones in life, not just for the woman, but for the entire family and believe that is why we need to get this beginning stage right! Having the priviledge to choose who was present at my own two wonderful homebirth’s was incredibly important to me and I feel it makes such a difference receiving care from someone you know on a more personal level. It is so important to be cared for by someone you have complete trust in, safe in the knowledge they know your needs and will be there to advise and support you all the way.
Most of my career has been spent working in low risk midwifery led units and so I have a strong passion for normality. This has included being a community midwife and working in a dedicated Homebirth team. Waterbirth is a particular interest of mine.
I am available to provide a full range of care throughout the antenatal period, complete labour care either at home or as a birth support (if choosing to go into a unit), as well as full support once baby has arrived. I am also available for individual antenatal or postnatal appointments as well as breastfeeding support.
I cover East Dorset, West Hampshire, Bournemouth and Christchurch areas.
Central Support Team
Annie Francis
I have been a qualified midwife for over 17 years, starting my midwifery course in the same month as my youngest son Arthur started school. My husband Peter and I have four children, all now in their 20s. Three of them were born at home with the same midwife and the care Caroline gave me and my family over those years was my inspiration for becoming a midwife - that same continuity lies at the heart of everything we offer here at Neighbourhood Midwives.
Like every other member of our team, I am passionate about providing a safe, personalised service for you, your partner and your baby from the moment you book with us. As CEO, my lifelong ambition and goal is for the model of care that Neighbourhood Midwives offers to become a real choice for all women having a baby in the UK, regardless of their circumstances. In March 2015 I was honoured to be invited to be a member of the National Maternity Review recently announced by NHS England.
Cathy Walton
I trained as a midwife in the 1980’s, working at first in hospitals but soon moved into community settings. Knowing your midwife and being able to build a relationship with women through continuity has always been important to me and I see it as the optimum way to be a midwife.
I have worked in continuity models, including the Albany Midwifery group Practice, for 15 years, caring for women planning birth at home or in hospital. This was the highlight of my career in many ways as it was such a delight and honour to be with women on their pregnancy journey and to support them through the birth and afterwards. Birth is such a special and magical event.
I was a consultant midwife at King’s College Hospital for 10 years, the best part of which for me was helping women to understand their previous difficult births and how they might have a more positive experience next time.
Now, in my role as Governance and Quality Lead for Neighbourhood Midwives, I have the opportunity to support an organisation dedicated to making a caseloading model available to women, by ensuring that it has robust governance and that midwives are supported to do what they do best.
I have 2 children, both born at home and live in Hampshire.
Eleanor May Johnson
I was fascinated by pregnancy and birth as an teenager but it wasn’t until I was pregnant with my third daughter that I decided I would train to become a midwife. I graduated from Bournemouth University in 2003 and have been a caseload midwife ever since, both in the NHS and the independent sector. I am still as passionate about midwifery as ever and it is my great privilege to share the journey through pregnancy, birth and into parenthood with the women and families I care for.
As clinical co-ordinator at Neighbourhood Midwives, I work closely with all the midwives within our organisation. My role includes supporting and advising them on their clinical practice, as well as being involved in the operational running & IT provision for Neighbourhood Midwives. I am also responsible for Information Governance and act as our Caldicott Guardian. It is my aim to make the care we provide available to all women.
Lucy Duncan
I am not a midwife, but my mother is and so I have been surrounded by midwives for most of my life. I have witnessed time and time again, how much better pregnancy and birth can be for a woman when she knows the midwife guiding and assisting her through pregnancy, birth and the first few weeks of motherhood, especially when things don’t go to plan.
I am the administrator Neighbourhood Midwives. I studied Chinese for my BA and, following this, did an MA in medical anthropology with a particular focus on childbirth.
Tina Perridge
Becoming a midwife at the age of 40 was like beginning a new life for me. For the pregnancy and birth of my fourth child, I had been looked after by an independent midwife and the experience was life changing. 17 years later and my family have all embraced the life of a midwife and are just as passionate as I am about Neighbourhood Midwives.
For me, it is all about the women, ensuring that each one feels supported and nurtured, so they can relax and enjoy their pregnancy, safe in the knowledge that their midwife will be with them every step of the way. As part of the Central Support Team, I am responsible for our company culture and finance but most of all, for making sure that the women we care for, and the midwives in our team, have the best possible experience - that’s what gets me up in the morning!
