The STORK Collaborative

The STORK Collaborative is anchored at the University of Wolverhampton, Research Institute in Health care Science.

The STORK Collaborative is a network of interested health care teams working towards reducing risks for newborn and infant mortality though parent, carer and family education and empowerment, using the STORK Programme, in the West Midlands.

Aim of Collaborative at the University of Wolverhampton:

Our focus is to help partner teams deliver a programme that is best suited to their local population. Research around parent, carer and family education and empowerment will include

  • understanding key drivers for community uptake of messages around reducing the risks for infant mortality in the region, and implementing change accordingly,
  • key drivers that promote appropriate behavioural modifications based on the messages shared, and
  • quality assurance of training delivered and received.

Partner teams of the STORK Collaborative:

Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Academic Insitute of Medicine:

Professor Thillagavathie Pillay

Faculty of Health, Education and Well being:

Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences

Centre for Research in Education and Social Transformation (CREST)

City of Wolverhampton Council: Public Health

Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Maternity Services:

  • Antenatal and Community services
  • South East Midwifery Team
  • South Staffordshire Midwifery Team
  • Cannock Chase Hospital Midwifery Team

Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Neonatal Unit

City of Wolverhampton Council: Health Visiting

  • Health visiting Practice Education Facilitator
  • Health Visiting Service Lead

Dudley Council, Public Health and Wellbeing directorate:

  • Dudley Public Health Manager
  • Stork Trainers

Russells Hall Neonatal Unit, Dudley Group of Hospitals:

  • Consultant Paediatrician and neonatal governance lead
  • Lead Neonatal Nurse
  • Paediatric Services Matron
  • Public Health Project Midwife

Better Births, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (Local Maternity System):

  • Programme Manager

Princess Royal Hospital

  • Consultant Clinical Lead (Neonatology)
  • Consultant Paediatrician
  • Discharge planning team
  • Home care Team
  • STORK Facilitators
  • Maternity Services for vulnerable women
  • Neonatal Home care team
  • Neonatal Home Care team
  • Neonatal Services
  • Maternity Services

The STORK Programme and STORK Collaborative uses materials provided through the Lullaby Trust. 

  • Regional Representative

Professor T Pillay, Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Academic Institute of Medicine.

Contact details for enquiries: t.pillay@wlv.ac.uk; tilly.pillay@nhs.net

  • “STORK is a fantastic programme, our families really enjoy it and the recognition from the CQC is more than justified” - Sr Marie Eaton,Community Midwife Team Lead Cannock Chase Hospital

  • "Stork, is a vital element of antenatal education as it prepares prospective parents  how to deliver emergency care to their baby if required in a non-threatening environment prior to their babies birth. This programme is promoted by both hospital and community midwives  who work for RWT” - Hazel  J Remmett-Booth, Matron Maternity – Antenatal /  Community Services, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

This is a very exciting new project that draws on expertise of our staff from health science, education and psychology, in collaboration with neonatal units at local hospital trusts, public health directorates in Dudley and Wolverhampton and the Lullaby Trust.

Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor