Expert Witness Journal Issue 63 October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 4
Miss Kenga Sivarajah
Expert Obstetrician
Dr Sam Bonner
MBChB, MRCOG, FRCOG, DFSRH
Consultant Obstetrician, Clinical Governance Lead,
MBBS BSc (Hons) MRCOG MRCP (UK) PGCert (MedEd)
Maternity Clinical Advisor, Maternity & Newborn Safety
Investigations (MNSI) led by Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Ms Kenga Sivarajah is an Expert Obstetrician based in London.
Dr Samantha Bonner is a Consultant Obstetrician who has a specialist interest in high risk
Currently a Consultant Obstetrician at King’s College Hospital (KCH) and gained by
completion of training in 2018. Ms Sivarajah is the Labour ward lead at KCH, lead for
Perinatal Mental health and runs the Cardiology, Respiratory and Liver pregnancy service.
antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care, maternal medicine and clinical governance.
Dr Bonner qualified in 2007 from the University of Sheffield and trained in the North West
completing specialist training in Advanced Labour Ward practice, maternal medicine and
Ms Sivarajah has an excellent knowledge of Obstetrics, with special interest in women
with pregnant women with medical complications and the complex journey that they
often face before, during and after their pregnancy.
labour ward lead. Dr Bonner was appointed as a full time Consultant Obstetrician in 2016
Dr Bonner has formal expert witness accreditation through Cardiff University Bond Solon
Expert Witness certification in Civil law (Excellence in report writing, Courtroom skills, cross
With a wealth of experience in caring for these women at both tertiary and district
general hospital level. In her experience, thorough counselling and planning prior to
pregnancy remains an essential component of maternal medicine care. Ms Sivarajah is on
the PSIRF panel for risk incidents in maternity at KCH She has extensive experience of
root cause analysis of patient safety incident in the maternity unit as well as preparing
serious untoward incident reports. Ms Sivarajah has worked with TMELP since
September 2021. She assists in obstetric legal cases by providing by expert Obstetric
opinion and has provided her expertise on over 250 cases.She has completed the
Capsticks diploma in risk and claims management with distinction.
examination and civil law theory). She is instructed by Claimants, Defendants and in Coronial
investigations. She currently prepares approximately 50 court compliant medical legal reports
per year (clinical negligence, breach of duty and personal injury) with a Claimant – Defendant
ratio of 60-40.
Dr Bonner has experience in cases relating to:
• High risk antenatal care including missed or delayed diagnosis and management
• High risk Intrapartum care
• Postnatal care
• Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Ms Sivarajah is very familiar with the legal framework applicable for women who lack
capacity to make decisions regarding their antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care. She
has led and assisted on 10 such cases; one of which was extremely complex and a
landmark case in the Court of Protection. Subsequently awarded a King's Star award for
her work. She is an expert in co-ordinating care of these women via an extensive MDT,
making best interest decisions and submitting detailed care plans to the Court of
Protection. In her current role, she works closely with the safeguarding team ensuring that
care for the unborn child and existing children is also maintained. She is currently part
of a working group to formulate a framework for assessing mental capacity
in patients.
• Early neonatal deaths
• Maternal medicine (congenital and acquired heart disease in pregnancy)
• Abnormal Cardiotocography (CTG) assessment and management
• Delay in diagnosis of acute intrapartum events (placental abruption, uterine rupture)
• Failure to expedite birth following abnormal CTG, abnormal FBS and malpresentation
(breech)
• Delay in delivery
• Failure to discuss risks (Large for gestational age contributing to fetal and maternal trauma,
mode of birth, malpresentation, high maternal BMI)
• Maternal birth injury (Obstetric anal sphincter injury, post-partum haemorrhage,
traumatic births)
• Fetal trauma relating to delivery
Tel: 07796 132 059
Email: kenga.sivarajah@nhs.net
60 Southerton Road, London, W6 0PH
Area of work:Greater London, happy to travel to other parts of the UK if required.
• Mismanagement of DVT / PE / Varicose veins (antenatal / intrapartum/ postnatal)
Tel: 07931 906 989 - Email: samantha.bonner@mft.nhs.uk
Division of Obstetrics, Oxford Road Campus, St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, M13 9WL
Dr Gillian Stephen
Consultant Obstetrician
Ms Emily Brace
Registered Midwife
BSc, MBChB, MRCOG
MSc, BSc RM, Dip RN
Dr Gillian Stephen is a Consultant Obstetrician who has a special interest in
multiple pregnancies, perinatal mental health and fetal medicine.
Ms. Emily Brace works nationally across England supporting NHS Organisations
from a maternity safety perspective.
Dr Stephen qualified from the University of Manchester Medical School in 2003
after completing a BSc in Medical Science at the University of St Andrews. She
trained in the North West and commenced Maternal and Fetal Medicine
subspecialty training at Saint Mary’s Hospital in 2011.
She graduated as an Adult Registered Nurse in 2005, before furthering her
professional qualifications in 2009 as a Registered Midwife.
Ms Brace has held a variety of Consultant & Specialist Midwifery Roles across
busy Tertiary units in both England & Wales, this has included a variety of clinical
positions as well as national improvement work, and national system wide change
with a perinatal safety lens.
She is instructed by Claimants and Defendants in clinical negligence and personal
injury cases. Dr Stephen is happy to opine on causation, condition and prognosis,
breach of duty and liability.
Dr Stephen has experience in cases relating to:
• Intrapartum care
• Delay in diagnosis
• Fetal medicine
• Multiple pregnancy management
• Maternal mental health
• High risk antenatal care
• Early neonatal deaths
• Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE)
• Abnormal CTG assessment
• Mismanagement of DVT/P
• Failure to discuss risks (foetal macrosomia (large baby))
• Trauma relating to delivery (mother and baby)
• Traumatic births
• Failure to expedite delivery following abnormal red flags:
– Abnormal CTG
– Abnormal FBS
– Breech/footing deliveries
Ms Braces’ expertise includes senior expert leadership and clinical advice for
trusts across England that have been entered onto a safety support programme or
have required upstream diagnostic support.
Her expertise also includes, but not limited to:
l Diagnostic reviews of maternity services
l Thematic reviews of clinical incidents and SMART action development
l Gap analysis of clinical pathways against national best practice
l Support for Trusts re: management of clinical incidents
l Governance Training & Audit deep dives
l Quality Improvement initiatives against best practice
l Strategic advice & support
l Leadership capacity and capability reviews
l Cultural service reviews
l System wide learning
Ms Brace has undertaken the Bond Solon Cardiff University Assessment – Civil
Expert Certificate (CUBS Assessment) in 2023. She is widely published and has
been recognised for her excellence.
Contact: Dr Gillian Stephen - Email: info@glsmedical.co.uk
GLS Medical, First Floor, Swan Buildings, 20 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JW
Area of Work: North West and Nationwide
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
Contact: Emily Brace - Mobile: 07825 835 725
Email: emilybrace2@gmail.com - Alternate Email: emily.brace2@nhs.net
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2025
