Sarah is the Programme Manager on the PRE-EMPT Study.  

The Programme aims to find out:

1. Whether a scan of the cervix (an internal scan), would be acceptable to women having their first baby.
2. How the results of this scan should be explained to women.
3. Whether women with a short cervix would accept progesterone treatment and additional appointments with preterm specialists.
4. How we could design a scan and treatment pathway, from start to finish, so that women are supported to make decisions that are right for them, and so they have the best possible experience.
5. Whether this pathway would be good value for money.

Design 

We will ask women their views about the new service, and what is important to them, and use this information to work with them and healthcare professionals to develop the scan and treatment pathway. We will then try out this care pathway in several maternity hospitals and talk to women and healthcare professionals again to make sure it is suitable across the NHS. We want to make sure this pathway will be acceptable to as many women as possible. 

 Patient and Public Involvement 

Discussions with women from a range of backgrounds and charity partners (Tommy’s/Sands/Approachable Parenting) have shaped our project design. We have a dedicated Public Involvement Lead who will support our public collaborator and a dedicated Women’s Advisory Group (WAG) to plan and support the delivery of our project, ensuring a focus on women’s experiences throughout. 

Dissemination 

We will share what we find out widely. This will help pregnant women to make choices that are right for them, and support healthcare professionals in providing the best care. Our public, charity and healthcare professional partners will help us to create an information package and advise us how we can share it with different audiences. We will also share findings at medical conferences and publications in medical journals. 

Previously, Sarah worked as a Project Manager on the CONNECT study which evaluated the impact of remote Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (SRHS) consultations on health inequalities.

Prior to this Sarah was a Senior Trial Manager at Birmingham Clinincal Trials Unit on the following trials:

iHOLDS trial which is a large, randomised double-blinded, multi-centre study looking at standard dose vs a higher dose of oxytocin on the rate of caesarean section in induction of labour.  The Trial is being run at Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit (BCTU).  You can find out more about the trial here

Colour-COPD trial, a 2-arm, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigating the use of a sputum colour chart to guide antibiotic self-treatment when patients experience acute exacerbation of COPD.

Sarah has also previously worked in research posts the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences on two RCTs: Community-based Prevention of Diabetes (Com-PoD) study and the Retirement in Action (REACT) Study. Com-PoD assessed the effectiveness of a community-based diabetes prevention programme, and REACT assessed the effectiveness of a physical activity and social programme on improving the physical function of older adults.

From 2009-2014 Sarah worked in the Department of Primary Care Clinical Sciences at the University of Birmingham where she delivered the exercise intervention in two RCT's: 1) investigating the effectiveness of exercise on postnatal depression (The PAM-PeRS study) and 2) vasomotor menopausal symptoms (The Active Women study). She also worked on numerous weight management RCTs including Weigh 2 Go (the efficacy of drinking water prior to main meals to aid weight loss); Scale Down (the effectiveness of daily self-weighing on weight loss) and Limit study (weight loss maintenance).

Physical function and physical activity in older adults

Diabetes prevention

Postnatal depression and exercise

Menopausal symptoms and exercise

Obesity and weight management

Women's Health

Maternal Health