The team
Dr Victoria Bills (MRCOG PhD)
is a Consultant Obstetrician and Subspecialist in Fetal/Maternal
Medicine. She graduated from Liverpool University Medical School
and later obtained her PhD at the University of Bristol, studying
the microvascular processes occurring in pre-eclampsia. She
is honorary senior lecturer at the University of Bristol,
supervising clinical researchers investigating the role of the
glycocalyx and vascular growth molecules in pregnancy related
diseases. She is co-vice chair of the Scientific Advisory
Committee at the RCOG. She is the Clinical Lead for fetal medicine
and obstetric ultrasound at St Michaels Hospital.
Key publications:
- Bills VL, Soothill PW. Fetal blood grouping using cell
free DNA - An improved service for RhD negative pregnant
women. Transfusion & Apheresis Science. 2014 Apr;
50(2):148-153.
- Bills VL, Soothill PW, Overton TG, Neal CR, Jeffery B, Harper
SJ, Bates DO. Biological activity of VEGF in plasma from
patients with pre-eclampsia. BJOG Sep 2011 Vol 118,
p1253-1261.
- Bills VL, Soothill PW, Bates DO. Failure to up-regulate
VEGF165b in maternal plasma is a first trimester predictive marker
for pre-eclampsia. Clinical Science. 2009 Feb; 116(3):265-72.
- Fabre-Gray A, Down C, Neal CR, Foster B, Satchell S &
BillsVL, 2018,
'Imaging the placental glycocalyx with transmission electron
microscopy'. Placenta, vol 74, pp. 59-61
Dr Jane Currie (MRCOG MRCP PhD)
is a Consultant Obstetrician and
Subspecialist in Fetal/Maternal Medicine. She graduated from St
George's, University of London, trained in Obstetrics and
Gynaecology in North Central and East London, and completed
Subspecialty Maternal and Fetal Medicine in Bristol. She has a PhD
in urinary tract infection in pregnancy and preterm birth from UCL
and has continued to lead research in this and other areas as a
clinical lecturer. She is Lead Obstetrician for fetal monitoring
and engagement at St Michael's Hospital.
Mr. Mark Denbow (FRCOG PhD)
is a Consultant Obstetrician and
Subspecialist in Fetal Medicine. He graduated from St Marys
Hospital Medical School in London and later obtained his PhD at the
University of London, studying the complications of monochorionic
twinning and shared placentation. His previous roles include
Treasurer of the British Maternal fetal Medicine Society and
Training Programme Director for south west O&G trainees. He
divides his time between Cardiff and Bristol fetal medicine units.
He leads the laser service for twin to twin transfusion syndrome in
monochorionic twins.
Key publications:
- Denbow ML, Taylor M, Cox P, Fisk NM Derivation of rate of
arterio-arterial anastomotic transfusion between monochorionic twin
fetuses by Doppler waveform analysis. Placenta. 2004 Aug;
25(7):664-70.
- Denbow ML, Talbert D, Fisk NM. Determinants of flow along
arterio-arterial anastomoses in monochorionic placentae by dynamic
computer modelling of chorionic plate vasculature. Prenat
Diagn. 2006 May; 26(5):433-42.
- Pasupathy D,Denbow ML, Rutherford MA; RCOG. The Combined Use of
Ultrasound and Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging for a Comprehensive
Fetal Neurological Assessment in Fetal Congenital Cardiac Defects:
Scientific Impact Paper No. 60. BJOG. 2019 Jun;
126(7):e142-e151.
Dr Kelly-Ann Eastwood (MRCOG PhD PGDipClEd)
is a Consultant Obstetrician and Subspecialist in
Fetal/Maternal Medicine. She qualified in London and underwent
sub-specialty training in Fetal Medicine in Bristol and
Belfast. She obtained her PhD on prediction of pre-eclampsia
in high risk women. Since her post as Academic Clinical Lecturer in
Queen's University Belfast her research is focused on obesity,
pre-eclampsia and pre-conception care.
Key publications:
- Eastwood KA, Hunter AJ, Patterson CC, McCance DR, Young IS,
Holmes VA. Placental
vascularization indices and prediction of pre-eclampsia in
high-risk women. Placenta. 2018 Oct; 70:53-59.
- Eastwood KA, Patterson C, Hunter AJ, McCance DR, Young IS,
Holmes VA. Evaluation of the
predictive value of placental vascularisation indices derived from
3-Dimensional power Doppler whole placental volume scanning for
prediction of pre-eclampsia: A systematic review and
meta-analysis. Placenta. 2017 Mar; 51:89-97.
- Eastwood KA, Hunter AJ, Patterson CC, Mc Cance DR, Young IS,
Holmes VA. The role of
biomarkers in predicting pre-eclampsia in high-risk
women. Ann Clin Biochem. 2020 Mar; 57(2):128-137.
Dr Rachel Liebling (MRCOG MSc)
is a Consultant Obstetrician and Subspecialist in
Fetal/Maternal Medicine. She graduated from Sheffield University
and obtained her MSc from University of Bristol, studying Operative
Vaginal Delivery. She is co-chair of the South West Fetal Medicine
Clinical Network. She conceived of, established and led the
maternal mental health service in Bristol, for 10 years, winning
numerous national awards for this work and securing a NIHR grant
for over £300,000 to study SSRI use in pregnancy. She is
the Lead Obstetrician at St Michael's Hospital.
Key publications:
Dr Sarah Newell (MRCOG MD)
is a Consultant Obstetrician and Subspecialist in
Fetal/Maternal Medicine. She qualified from St. George's,
University of London and underwent postgraduate and sub-specialty
training in Maternal & Fetal Medicine in Bristol. She obtained
her MD from the University of Bristol studying cardiovascular and
neurological complications in monochorionic twin pregnancies. She
works alongside Mark Denbow to perform laser procedures to treat
twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
Dr Llinos Roberts (MRCOG RANZCOG)
is a Consultant Obstetrician and
Subspecialist in Fetal/Maternal Medicine. She graduated from
Manchester Medical School and later undertook her fetal medicine
subspecialty training in King's College, London under Kypros
Nicolaides. She has a diploma in medical ethics and
law. She worked as a fetomaternal medicine consultant at the
National Women's Health, Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand for 3
years before taking up her fetal medicine post in Bristol.
She is the Obstetric Lead for patient safety at St Michael's
Hospital.
Dr Rebecca Simms (MRCOG MD)
is a Consultant Obstetrician and Subspecialist in
Maternal/Fetal Medicine. She graduated from the University of
Bristol and is now the Undergraduate Academy Lead for Bristol
University's medical students. She is the Lead for Obstetric
Haematology at St Michael's Hospital and also has an interest in
dichorionic twins.
Key publications:
- Simms R, Yelland A, Fox R. Using data and quality
monitoring to enhance maternity outcomes: a qualitative study of
risk managers' perspectives. BMJ Qual Saf. 2014 Jun;
23(6):457-64.
- Simms R, Ping H, Fox R. Development of maternity dashboards
across a UK health region; current practice, continuing problems.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2013 Sep; 170(1):119-24.
Screening Midwives and Fetal Medicine Midwives
We have dedicated specialist midwives skilled in fetal medicine
and screening:
- Sara-Jane Sheldon
- Nicola Standen
- Lisa Lintern
- Gemma Keay
They can talk you through your screening results and can be
contacted on 0117 3425708