Dr Lucy Hope RM, BSc (Hons), PGCert, PhD
Dr Lucy Hope is a Principal Lecturer in Midwifery and Master’s Course Lead at the University of Worcester, where she combines academic leadership, research and education with a longstanding commitment to improving outcomes for women, babies and families.
A registered midwife since 2002, Lucy has developed an extensive career spanning clinical practice, higher education and health research. Throughout that time, one principle has remained constant: ensuring that women and families receive the highest quality care through evidence-informed practice, compassionate leadership and excellent education.
Lucy believes that research should never exist solely within academic journals. Instead, it should inform education, influence policy and improve the care that women, babies and families experience every day. This philosophy continues to shape her work as an educator, researcher and academic leader.
Career
Following qualification as a registered midwife, Lucy gained extensive clinical experience across a variety of maternity settings before moving into research, where she developed a particular interest in improving maternal and infant health through evidence-based practice.
Her research career included work as a Research Midwife at the University of Birmingham, contributing to projects designed to strengthen maternity care through high-quality evidence and collaborative research.
Today, as Principal Lecturer in Midwifery and Master’s Course Lead at the University of Worcester, Lucy leads and supports the education of future midwives while contributing to curriculum development, academic leadership and postgraduate education. She also supervises Master’s and PhD students, supporting the next generation of researchers and healthcare leaders.
Research
Lucy’s research is driven by a simple but powerful ambition: to improve the lives of women, babies and families.
Her work has explored a broad range of topics including breastfeeding support, postnatal care, maternal and infant health, health promotion, evidence-based practice and midwifery education. She has published under both Lucy Hope and her previous surname, Lucy Ingram (L. Ingram), reflecting a sustained contribution to midwifery research over many years.
Particular areas of interest include:
- Breastfeeding support and peer support interventions
- Maternal and infant health
- Evidence-informed maternity care
- Midwifery education
- Health promotion
- Research translation into clinical practice
- Improving outcomes for women, babies and families
Lucy is particularly interested in ensuring that research is translated into meaningful improvements in practice, education and policy, helping to bridge the gap between academic evidence and clinical care.
Education and Leadership
Education has the potential to influence thousands of lives.
Lucy believes that every student midwife who graduates with confidence, compassion and a commitment to evidence-based practice will go on to improve the care of countless women and families throughout their professional career.
Her teaching reflects a commitment to academic excellence while recognising the importance of kindness, professionalism and reflective practice. Through leadership, curriculum development and postgraduate supervision, she is committed to preparing healthcare professionals who are equipped to meet the challenges of modern maternity care.
Alongside teaching, Lucy continues to contribute to the wider development of midwifery education through research, collaboration and professional engagement.
Professional Memberships
Lucy is a member of the Royal College of Midwives and remains committed to supporting the continued development of the midwifery profession through education, research and collaboration.
Speaking and Collaboration
Lucy regularly delivers presentations and workshops at professional conferences and educational events, sharing research findings and practical insights that support evidence-informed maternity care and midwifery education.
She welcomes opportunities to collaborate with universities, healthcare organisations, professional bodies and charities that share a commitment to improving maternal, newborn and infant health.
Areas of collaboration include:
- Research partnerships
- Conference presentations and keynote speaking
- Educational consultancy
- Curriculum development
- External examining
- Research supervision
- Professional advisory roles
- Charity and third-sector partnerships
Professional Interests
Lucy has a particular interest in contributing to organisations whose work improves the health and wellbeing of women, babies and families through research, education and compassionate leadership.
She welcomes opportunities to support initiatives focused on:
- Breastfeeding and infant nutrition
- Reducing infant mortality
- Improving maternity services
- Midwifery leadership and education
- Maternal and infant health research
- National and international collaboration
- Charitable organisations supporting women, babies and families
Philosophy
Throughout her career, Lucy has remained guided by a simple belief:
Every woman, every baby and every family deserves care informed by the best available evidence, delivered with compassion and shaped by those committed to continual learning.
Whether through research, teaching, leadership or collaboration, her work continues to focus on translating evidence into better care and improving outcomes for women, babies and families.