Consultant Neonatologist
Helen is a Consultant Neonatologist, Clinical Lead at Executive Strategic Board for the Kent & Medway Local Maternity and Neonatal System (K&M LMNS) and Expert reference group member for the NHS England regional Maternity and Neonatal System. As a Principal Investigator, she leads neonatal research aimed at improving outcomes and has been nominated for the Medway Hospital Research and Innovation Award 2024. Her dedication to newborn care and healthcare equity also earned her a nomination for the Nigerian Healthcare Professional UK/NHS@70 Award in 2019.
Helen chairs the K&M LMNS neonatal subgroup and has launched the “Tracking Trends in Neonatal Morbidity” initiative, providing critical insights into neonatal health trends in the region. This data-driven approach has set a standard for enhancing neonatal care. She also leads the K&M LMNS Equity and Equalities Stakeholders Group, fostering a collaborative environment for sharing best practices and developing solutions to reduce health disparities. At Medway Hospital, Helen oversees quality improvement and audit processes, ensuring adherence to national audits and NICE guidelines. She advocates for Family Integrated Care (FICare) at the Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit, enhancing parental involvement through initiatives like parent-led ward rounds.
Recognising the heightened risk of severe jaundice and brain damage in ethnic minority neonates, she developed specialized training for healthcare professionals. Her “Jaundice in Darker Skin Tone Babies” program equips maternity and neonatal staff with essential skills to detect and manage jaundice in infants with darker skin tones, thereby improving clinical outcomes and reducing disparities in care. She developed two educational packages; webinar series for staff , “Jaundice in Darker Skin Tone Babies” launched in September 2024, attracted over 300 NHS staff to her first session, and her second webinar series which is parent-focused raises awareness about jaundice symptoms and empower families to seek timely medical assistance. Helen has been nominated twice for the Best Educational Supervisor award in the KSS IN 2023 and 2024.
She is enhancing care on a large scale through educational initiatives with staff and families. Her goal is to continue making clinical information more accessible and understandable by leveraging social media.
email: helen.gbinigie@nhs.net