Sarah McDonald

Progressed rapidly through roles from Assistant to Resuscitation Officer, demonstrating commitment to professional development and excellence in clinical education.

Key responsibilities and achievements:

• Deliver high-quality resuscitation training to multidisciplinary healthcare professionals
• Instructor Status:

Newborn Life Support (Advanced)
Immediate Life Support (Adult)
Paediatric Immediate Life Support
Adult, Paediatric & Newborn Basic Life Support

• Instructor Candidate in European Paediatric Life Support (EPALS)(progressing towards instructor status by end of April 2026)
• Resuscitation Officer at HCA Portland Hospital (Women and Children’s Services)
• Lead and facilitate simulation training with structured, effective debriefing
• Conduct audits, risk assessments, and report writing
• Build strong working relationships with senior teams, clients, and administrative staff

Oversaw the daily operational management of the labour ward and wider maternity unit.

Key responsibilities:

• Coordinated patient flow across:

Labour ward
Antenatal and postnatal wards
Day assessment unit
Theatres (elective and emergency)
Recovery and antenatal clinics
Low-risk birth centre

• Managed staffing levels and acuity to maintain safe care
• Provided senior clinical support and second opinions in complex cases
• Led and supported teams during obstetric, neonatal, and adult emergencies
• Maintained high standards of clinical safety and care delivery
• Regularly scrubbed in for surgical procedures
• Supported community midwives via telephone triage and advice

Managed a team of approximately 40 staff within a busy labour ward environment.

Key responsibilities:

• Staff management including rotas, flexible working, and workforce planning
• Conducted appraisals, performance management, and career development support
• Managed sickness, occupational health referrals, and leave (including maternity and bereavement)
• Investigated complaints and produced timely reports
• Led recruitment and interview processes
• Conducted audits and escalated safety concerns
• Fire marshal: completed fire audits and drills
• Built a supportive and approachable team culture
• Fostered a culture of continuous improvement within the team through active encouragement and support.
• Supervised clinical tasks to maintain quality patient care across shifts.
• Regularly 'manager of the day' so was point of escalation for any operation or safety concerns throughout the unit

Specialist role focused on improving safety and practice in fetal monitoring.

Key achievements:

• Designed and implemented a training programme for physiological CTG interpretation
• Led transition from NICE guideline-based interpretation to physiological approach
• Successfully implemented change during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Delivered weekly multidisciplinary teaching with consultant obstetricians
• Conducted audits and case reviews to identify learning themes
• Addressed communication and practice issues within teams
• Supported junior midwives clinically during implementation
• Covered Practice Education Midwife role:

Maintained training compliance records
Delivered maternal emergency study days

Rotational role across all areas of maternity services.

Key experience:

• Worked across community, antenatal, postnatal wards, labour ward, and birth centre
• Developed strong skills in both low-risk and high-risk care
• Built confidence in emergency management and neonatal resuscitation
• Provided holistic, woman-centred care
• Worked collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
• Supported and empowered women and their families