Vicky Mitchell

Vicky is a Registered Nurse and doctoral researcher with expertise in maternal and infant health, learning disabilities, and health equity. Her research focuses on understanding and addressing inequalities in maternal and infant health, particularly among populations whose experiences are often underrepresented in research and practice.

Vicky’s PhD explores the infant-feeding experiences of mothers with learning disabilities using participatory, narrative methods that centre lived experience and support the development of more inclusive, rights-based maternity and infant-feeding services. Her previous research has examined infant-feeding support, including human-rights access to breastmilk, for babies removed at birth into foster care. She has also explored the experiences of mothers of infants with Down syndrome in accessing infant-feeding support.

Vicky’s clinical background has covered acute, rehabilitation, community, and paediatric specialist complex needs services. She has worked with adults in general medicine, and neurorehabilitation, as well as with children who have complex physical and learning disabilities in respite community settings.

In addition to research and clinical work, Vicky serves as a peer reviewer for the Royal College of Nursing journals Nursing Children and Young People and Learning Disability Practice.

Her wider interests include global maternal and infant health, by developing and supporting inclusive health systems that improve outcomes for women, infants, children, and families. She is committed to producing research that informs policy, enhances clinical practice, and contributes to more equitable healthcare both nationally and internationally.