Dr Victoria Hodgetts Morton BMBS, MRCOG, PhD

Department of Applied Health Sciences
Associate Professor
Honorary Consultant in Obstetrics

Contact details

Email: v.a.h.morton@bham.ac.uk
Twitter: @vickyhodgetts_d

Address: Third floor academic department
Birmingham Women’s Hospital
Mindelsohn Way
Birmingham B15 2TG

Victoria is a NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. With a special interest in preterm birth prevention and support the running of the specialised preterm birth service at Birmingham Women’s Hospital. The clinic works to prevent pregnancy loss and reduce preterm birth.

Victoria's research interests include all aspects of maternal and fetal health. She is currently supporting large preterm birth trials C-STICH and CSTICH2, both trials aim to prevent pregnancy loss.

Qualifications

NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
PhD in Obstetrics, University of Birmingham
MRCOG
BMBS, University if Nottingham

Biography

Victoria's interest in O&G developed during her bachelor of medical science research project. During this time she evaluated predictors of fetal growth restriction and evaluated if customising estimated fetal weight/ birth weight improved the performance of Umbilical Artery Doppler in identifying fetuses at risk of adverse outcomes. This project fostered both her interest in O&G and research. Since this time Victoria has gained research experience in a wide range of research methodologies including systematic reviews including network meta-analysis, randomised controlled trials, qualitative research and prospective cohort studies.

Fetal Growth Restriction

Folic acid supplementation periconceptually prevents fetal growth restriction, is an important finding from a systematic review and cohort study Victoria completed. This is an important research finding and is contributing to the evidence base for food fortification within the UK. She is a member of the fetal growth guideline committee for the new RCOG guideline, producing a national guideline through a rigorous and evidenced based process.

C-STICH- A randomised controlled trial of monofilament vs braided suture thread to improve pregnancy outcomes when performing a vaginal cervical cerclage

Victoria was the clinical research fellow working on the cervical cerclage study C-STICH a NIHR HTA (13/04/107) funded RCT comparing monofilament versus braided suture thread for vaginal cervical cerclage. C-STICH recruited to target and is currently in the analysis phase.

PREPS Vaginal Preparation at Caesarean Section to Reduce Endometritis and Prevent Sepsis – A Feasibility Study of Chlorhexidine Gluconate

Victoria has co-developed a project aimed at reducing infection after a caesarean section.

This was a feasibility study funded by RFPB overarching aim of the research was to reduce infectious morbidity from caesarean sections, which is the most common procedure worldwide. Completing the feasibility research study helped identify a signal that vaginal cleansing reduced the risk of infection. The full trial application was unsuccessful, however, the feasibility study contributed to the Cochrane review and the evidence generated allows for a better understanding of the effectiveness of this intervention. An important part of this feasibility was to develop procedures for in labour intrapartum consent and randomisation and the trial was extremely successful in this and has supported and developed methodology to facilitate this.

QUIDS Evaluation of quantitative fetal fibronectin in symptomatic women to predict preterm birth

QUIDS trial management group member. Principal Investigator at Birmingham Women’s Hospital. Study completed and paper published, adding to the

C-STICH2: Emergency Cervical Cerclage to Prevent Miscarriage and Preterm Birth - a Randomised Controlled Trial

Victoria is a deputy chief-investigator on C-STICH2, a randomised controlled, multicentre trial (RCT) with internal pilot, nested qualitative process evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis evaluating the effectiveness of emergency cervical cerclage. This trial is funded by the NIHR HTA program following a commissioned call and following the pilot review a prospective observational cohort has been added.

CHAPTER: Childbirth Acquired Perineal Trauma Study

4 year multi stage NIHR Programme grant and to optimise care of perineal trauma. Currently, Victoria is co-leading the first work package, which includes a prospective observational cohort study, long term outcomes through CPRD data linkage study and a systematic review.

Cochrane NMA evaluating the effectiveness of tocolytics

Recently completed and published, this is now feeding into the WHO guidelines on tocolytics.

Teaching

Women’s Health intercalation

Research

Research interests

Victoria is interested in improving maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancy. Her current focus is the prevention of pregnancy loss through the prevention of preterm birth.

Current projects

C-STICH- A randomised controlled trial of monofilament vs braided suture thread to improve pregnancy outcomes when performing a vaginal cervical cerclage.

Research fellow on C-STICH a NIHR HTA (13/04/107) funded RCT comparing monofilament versus braided suture thread for vaginal cervical cerclage.

C-STICH2: Emergency Cervical Cerclage to Prevent Miscarriage and Preterm Birth - a Randomised Controlled Trial

Victoria is a deputy chief-investigator on C-STICH2 a randomised controlled, multicentre trial (RCT) with internal pilot, nested qualitative process evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis evaluating the effectiveness of emergency cervical cerclage. This trial funded by the NIHR HTA program following a commissioned call and following the pilot review a prospective observational cohort has been added.

CHAPTER: Childbirth Acquired Perineal Trauma Study

4 year multi stage NIHR Programme grant and to optimise care of perineal trauma. Victoria is currently co-leading the first work package, which includes a prospective observational cohort study, long term outcomes through CPRD data linkage study and a systematic review.

Other activities

NHS England - Midlands Preterm Birth Regional Lead

Publications

Molloy E, Pilarski N, Morris K, Hodgetts-Morton V, Jones L. The acceptability of emergency cervical cerclage within a randomised controlled trial for cervical dilatation with exposed membranes at 16-27+6 weeks gestation: Findings from a qualitative process evaluation of the C-STICH2 pilot trial. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2022;279:27-39.

Wilson A, Hodgetts-Morton VA, Marson EJ, Markland AD, Larkai E, Papadopoulou A, et al. Tocolytics for delaying preterm birth: a network meta‐analysis (0924). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2022(8).

Hodgetts Morton V, Stock SJ (2022) Low-dose aspirin for the prevention of preterm birth: More questions than answers. PLoS Med 19(2): e1003908.

Stock SJ, Horne M, Bruijn M, White H, Heggie R, Wotherspoon L, et al. A prognostic model, including quantitative fetal fibronectin, to predict preterm labour: the QUIDS meta-analysis and prospective cohort study. Health Technol Assess 2021;25(52) Mid.

Samodani Wijetunge, Ruby Hill, R. Katie Morris, Victoria Hodgetts Morton Advanced dressings for the prevention of surgical site infection in women post-caesarean section: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Volume 267, 2021,Pages 226-233, ISSN 0301-2115,

H. Baker, N. Pilarski, V.A. Hodgetts-Morton, R.K. Morris. Comparison of visual and computerised antenatal cardiotocography in the prevention of perinatal morbidity and mortality. A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Volume 263,2021,Pages 33-43,ISSN 0301-2115.

Pilarski N, Hodgetts-Morton V, Morris R K. Is cerclage safe and effective in preventing preterm birth in women presenting early in pregnancy with cervical dilatation? BMJ 2021; 375 :e067470 doi:10.1136/bmj-2021-067470.

Wilson A, Hodgetts-Morton VA, Marson EJ, Markland AD, Larkai E, Papadopoulou A, Coomarasamy A, Tobias A, Chou D, Oladapo OT, Price MJ, Morris K, Gallos ID. Tocolytics for delaying preterm birth: a network meta‐analysis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD014978. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD014978. Accessed 19 May 2022.

Man R, Hodgetts Morton V, Devani P, Morris RK. Aspirin for preventing adverse outcomes in low risk nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2021 May 11;262:105-112. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.05.017. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34010722.

Hodgetts-Morton, V., Hewitt, C.A., Jones, L. et al. C-STICH2: emergency cervical cerclage to prevent miscarriage and preterm birth—study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 22, 529 (2021).

Israfil-Bayli, F., Morton, V.H., Hewitt, C.A. et al. C-STICH: Cerclage Suture Type for an Insufficient Cervix and its effect on Health outcomes—a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Trials 22, 664 (2021).

Nicola Farmer, Megan Hillier, Mark D. Kilby, Victoria Hodgetts-Morton, R. Katie Morris, Outcomes in intervention and management of multiple pregnancies trials: A systematic review, European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Volume 261,2021,Pages 178-192, ISSN 0301-2115.

COVIDSurg Collaborative, GlobalSurg Collaborative. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study Br J Surg. 2021 Mar 24:znab101. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znab101. Online ahead of print.PMID: 33761533.

Alrammaal HH, Batchelor HK, Chong HP, Hodgetts Morton V, Morris RK. Prophylactic perioperative cefuroxime levels in plasma and adipose tissue at the time of caesarean section (C-LACE): a protocol for a pilot experimental, prospective study with non-probability sampling to determine interpatient variability. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2021 Feb 18;7(1):54. doi: 10.1186/s40814-021-00794-3.PMID: 33602323.

Farmer N, Hodgetts-Morton V, Morris RK.Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. Are prophylactic adjunctive macrolides efficacious against caesarean section surgical site infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2020 Jan;244:163-171. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.11.026. Epub 2019 Nov 22.PMID: 31810022.

Hodgetts-Morton V, Hewitt CA, Wilson A, Farmer N, Weckesser A, Dixon E, et al. Vaginal preparation with chlorhexidine at cesarean section to reduce endometritis and prevent sepsis: A randomized pilot trial (PREPS). Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2020;99(2):231-9.

Farmer N, Hodgetts-Morton V, Morris RK. Are prophylactic adjunctive macrolides efficacious against caesarean section surgical site infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Volume 244, 163 – 171.

Weckesser A, Farmer N, Dam R, Wilson A, Morton VH, Morris RK. Women's perspectives on caesarean section recovery, infection and the PREPS trial: a qualitative pilot study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019;19(1):245.

Jones K, Webb S,Manresa M, Hodgetts Morton V, Morris RK. The incidence of wound infection and dehiscence following childbirth-related perineal trauma: A systematic review of the evidence.European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 2019 Volume 240, 1 - 8.

Hodgetts Morton V, Wilson A, Hewitt C, Weckesser A, Farmer N, Lissauer D, Hardy P, Morris RK. Chlorhexidine vaginal preparation versus standard treatment at caesarean section to reduce endometritis and prevent sepsis-a feasibility study protocol (the PREPS trial). Pilot and feasibility trials. 2018 Jun 4;4:84.

Wotherspoon LM, Boyd KA, Morris RK, Dorling J, Jackson L, Chandiramani M, David AL, Khalil A, Shennan A, Hodgetts Morton V, Lavender T, Khan K, Harper-Clarke S, Mol BW, Riley RD, Norrie J, Norman JE, Stock S. Quantitative fibronectin to help decision-making in women with symptoms of preterm labour (QUIDS) part 1: Individual participant data meta-analysis and health economic analysis.BMJ Open. 2018 Apr 7;8(4):

Stock SJ, Wotherspoon LM, Boyd KA, Morris RK, Dorling J, Jackson L, Chandiramani M, David AL, Khalil A, Shennan A, Hodgetts Morton V, Lavender T, Khan K, Harper-Clarke S, Mol B, Riley RD, Norrie J, Norman J. Study protocol: quantitative fibronectin to help decision-making in women with symptoms of preterm labour (QUIDS) part 2, UK Prospective Cohort Study. BMJ Open. 2018 Apr 19;8(4)

Hodgetts Morton V, Quinlan-Jones E, Butts N, Williams D, Hamilton S, Marton T, Morris K. The first antenatal diagnosis of KBG syndrome: a microdeletion at chromosome 16q24.2q24.3 containing multiple genes including ANKRD11 associated with the disorder. Clin Case Rep. 2018 Jan;6(1) 189-191.

Hodgetts VA, Morris RK, Francis A, Gardosi J, Ismail KM. Effectiveness of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy on reducing the risk of small for gestation age neonates: a population based study, systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, 2015, vol. 122, no. 4, pp. 478-490, 2015.

Hodgetts V, Malick S. Time to highlight reflection in action as a key component of reflective practice. Newsletter of the International Society for Evidence-Based Health Care Newsletter 11, April 2013.

Williams D, Hodgetts V, Gupta J. Recurrent hydatidiform moles. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2010;150(1):3-7. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2010.01.003.