Duchess Catherine’s former midwife, who helped to deliver Prince George and Princess Charlotte, has been appointed the most senior midwifery role in England.
Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent is understood to have helped deliver Kate and Prince William’s first two children, and it was announced on Thursday 14 March that she will take on the newly created role of chief midwifery officer, The Daily Mail reports.
Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent is understood to have helped deliver Princess Charlotte and Prince George. (Image: Getty)
The announcement was made at the Chief Nursing Officer’s (CNO) summit in Birmingham and the role is said to be designed to improve care for new and expectant mothers and their children.
Professor Dunkley-Bent will now be responsible for overseeing the delivery of measures to enhance safety and support.
“I’m thrilled to be given the huge responsibility and privilege of serving families and my colleagues as England’s first chief midwifery officer,” she says.
“Throughout my time as a midwife and nurse in our NHS, I’ve seen first-hand the life-changing difference that the care of midwives can make to children and parents.
“And, as the health service sets out to deliver an ambitious programme to improve care and safety for mums-to-be and their babies, I cannot think of a more vital, exciting and inspiring responsibility.”
Kate greets Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, who helped deliver Princess Charlotte in 2015. (Image: Getty)
Last year the Duchess of Cambridge was pictured sharing an embrace with Professor Dunkley-Bent, when she visited a hospital last month.
The same day Kensington Palace announced Kate had become the official Patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).
Professor Dunkley-Bent helped to deliver Princess Charlotte alongside midwife Arona Ahmed at the exclusive Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in May 2015.
Despite being private, the wing is run by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which is where the professor is the director of midwifery.
With the Duchess of Sussex just weeks away from giving birth to her first child, there is much speculation about whether she will choose to follow in the footsteps of her sister-in-law Kate and late mother-in-law Princess Diana, by also choosing the Lindo Wing as her choice of hospital.
Duchess Meghan is just weeks away from giving birth to her first child with Prince Harry. (Image: Getty)
There has previously been talks that she had been weighing up options about having a homebirth or potentially choosing a hospital that would be closer to her new family home with Prince Harry, Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor.
Just a few weeks out, time will tell what the Duchess of Sussex decides.
