Consultant Obstetrician Expert Witness Dr Andrea Pilkington

Dr Pilkington has prepared detailed witness statements for Court of Protection applications concerning patients under her care. These statements addressed the risks and benefits of decisions relating to birth. She has subsequently given evidence in the Court of Protection.

She has also prepared witness statements for the coroner’s court and given evidence at hearings.

Her clinical investigation experience includes leading case discussions and preparing reports through the Perinatal Mortality Review Tool process. This work involves reviewing the circumstances of stillbirth and neonatal death.

Her areas of clinical opinion include antenatal care, fetal monitoring, obstetric emergencies, delivery decisions and maternal complications. They also include consent and capacity issues arising within obstetric care.

Dr Andrea Pilkington is a Consultant Obstetrician with ten years of consultant experience. Her obstetrics expert witness profile covers antenatal care, labour, delivery and postnatal care.

She practises within Saint Mary’s maternity services at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. She completed more than ten years of training in obstetrics and gynaecology in North West England. Her advanced training includes maternal medicine and advanced labour ward practice.

Her clinical work includes managing obstetric emergencies, leading labour ward care and supporting women with high-risk pregnancies. She interprets cardiotocography (CTG), performs instrumental deliveries and undertakes caesarean sections. She also leads antenatal clinics for women with diabetes, complex pregnancies and mental health problems.

Dr Pilkington has experience of investigating obstetric cases, undertaking root cause analyses and providing patient debriefs. Her work also includes reviewing clinical records, preparing reports and responding to patient complaints.

Dr Pilkington’s principal interests are high-risk obstetrics, intrapartum care and maternal medicine. These include fetal monitoring, obstetric emergencies, delivery decisions and complications affecting pregnancy and birth.

She has a particular interest in perinatal mental health. She works alongside perinatal psychiatrists to support pregnant women with severe mental health problems. This includes complex birth planning, issues involving decision-making capacity and care following traumatic birth.

Dr Pilkington is Deputy Head of the School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in North West England. She supports training standards and assesses trainees against Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists requirements.

She is a trained appraiser and an educational and clinical supervisor. She has appraised consultant colleagues and junior doctors.

Her previous roles include Safeguarding Lead for Obstetrics and Gynaecology within her Trust. This involved safeguarding processes concerning vulnerable adults and children. She completed a Certificate in Medical Leadership in Practice at Manchester Business School in 2013.

Dr Pilkington supports local clinical trials and recruits patients as part of her clinical practice. She has completed Good Clinical Practice training.

Her research contributions include work examining dietary interventions in women with gestational diabetes.

Dr Pilkington co-authored EMQs for the MRCOG Part 2: The Essential Guide, published by Cambridge University Press in 2014.

Her publications include work in medical education and gestational diabetes. She co-authored Testing the feasibility of an intermittent low-energy diet in women with gestational diabetes. This study appeared in Diabetic Medicine in 2026.

Dr Pilkington holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education, awarded in 2012. Her teaching experience includes supervising doctors and supporting specialty training in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Her previous appointments include College Tutor and Training Programme Director for ST3–5 trainees in North West England. She also leads training for GP trainees and physician associates within her Trust.

She is the Special Interest Training Module Director for North Western and Mersey. Her professional education roles include membership of the RCOG Special Interest Training Committee. She previously served as Vice Chair of the RCOG Curriculum Committee.

During specialty training, she chaired the local trainees’ committee and served as Vice Chair of the national RCOG Trainees’ Committee.