Jules Gudgeon

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT JULES GUDGEON

A midwife for nearly 35 years, I\'ve been a passionate advocate for leveraging digital technology to enhance maternity care. My commitment to this area was amplified during the National Maternity Review in 2015, led by Baroness Cumberlege, where I championed the role of digital solutions. Subsequently, I was appointed the Lead Midwife within the Digital Maternity Programme at NHS Digital, where I focused on driving the digital transformation of maternity services across the country. A key achievement during this time was the development of the award-winning Digital Midwives Expert Reference Group. This influential network fostered digital leadership in midwifery throughout England and played a pivotal role in achieving the Long-Term Plan milestone of women accessing their digital care records. Building on this momentum, I transitioned to the Digital Child Health and Maternity Programme at NHSx as the National Digital Midwife Lead for Maternity Services. Following the integration of NHSx into NHS England, I now serve as the Chief Midwifery Information Officer within Team CNIO, within the Transformation Directorate at NHS England. My portfolio encompasses clinical digital informatics across maternity, neonatal, and child health. Recognising the power of collaboration, we\'ve been instrumental in growing a dedicated community, which now proudly operates as the MatNeo Digital Network. This diverse group includes digital obstetricians, neonatal leads, business analysts, and project managers, all united by a focus on digital transformation within their respective specialties. A core element of my work is ensuring the NHS cultivates a strong leadership pipeline to support our digital future. This involves a focus on developing key competencies and creating accessible development opportunities, reflected in the creation of a dedicated career framework for digital leaders in maternity services. My commitment to equity is reflected in my proud support of the Equity Charter, where I actively stand up against discrimination in digital health, and the Shuri Network, especially their valuable Digital Fellowships. Furthermore, I am dedicated to addressing digital inequalities and keen to champion the vital work of organisations such as the Good Things Foundation.