The Fetal Medicine Department

The Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine comprises individuals who are part of the Reproduction,Genes and development Group of the School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham and the Birmingham Women’s Foundation NHS Trust.  Clinical work takes part (in the majority of circumstances) in the Fetal Medicine Centre and the Obstetric Directorate of the Birmingham Women’s Foundation Trust. The clinical and non-clinical scientists working in the School are focused on scientific problems that increase our understanding and method of managing clinical problems in Maternal and Fetal Medicine.

The Department of Fetal Medicine was founded in 1991 on the appointment of Professor Martin Whittle as the Dame Hilda Lloyd Chair of Fetal Medicine, University of Birmingham.  At that stage there were three staff members of the Fetal Medicine Department (including Dr. H Gee, then Senior Lecturer and former Medical Director /Postgraduate Tutor & Dr. McHugo, Consultant Radiologist). Since 1996, Professor Mark Kilby (appointed in 1996, as a Senior Lecturer) has been the Lead Clinician in Maternal Fetal Medicine and responsible for coordinating the clinical service.  It works closely with and is an integral part of the Department of Obstetric Radiology.  Other NHS staff members have subsequently been appointed and have clinical session with, and perform research as, part of our department:

Background Information

The West Midlands has an approximate population of 6 million people with a combined stillbirth and neonatal mortality rate of approximately 10 per 1,000 births (significantly higher than that of the England and Wales rate).  This perinatal loss rate is influenced by:

1. Unexplained stillbirth
2. High early neonatal death rate
3. A high rate of congenital anomalies
4. Antepartum asphyxia and intrapartum death
5. Prematurity
6. Fetal growth restriction

Many of the research portfolios within our Department are targeted towards these major problems affecting our practice.

In 2001 to the clinical service being designated a regional specialty service by the West Midlands Regional Health Authority and being funded accordingly.

The Department of Fetal Medicine members are still heavily influenced by the Academic Department and much of the basic science research is linked to clinical problems and pathophysiology affecting both mothers and babies.

The School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (section Reproduction, Genes & Development) have worked hard to obtain competitive ratings in the research assessment exercise and the University of Birmingham Medical School, in the last round, scored 5.  It has several research grouping employing a mixture of undergraduate and postgraduate scientists as well as clinical scientists.  

The Department of Fetal Medicine has a strong and well established training scheme for both the Advanced Diploma of Ultrasound (RCOG/RCR) and subspecialty training in Maternal and Fetal Medicine recognized by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.  There are 2 trainees at any one time and a Clinical Lecturer affiliated to the Department.