Photo exhibition showcasing the reality of life in a busy maternity unit launches at West Middlesex University Hospital

A photography exhibition will be displayed at West Middlesex University Hospital, documenting the experiences of expectant families cared for by a multidisciplinary team in a busy maternity unit. 

The powerful black-and-white photo series was captured by London-based photographer James Clifford Kent, who spent time shadowing the team at the Queen Mary Maternity Unit. 

In an uplifting full-circle moment, Kent returned to the unit where his daughter was born in the height of the pandemic in 2020, spending time with Consultant Obstetrician and Labour Ward Lead Osaeloke Osakwe, who supported his wife in the weeks leading up to the birth of their newborn daughter. 

The photographer highlights the realities of a London maternity unit and how things have changed since the pandemic. The series offers a moving portrayal of the journey that expectant families go on during this special time and the care they receive from a team of healthcare professionals. 

Depicting many of the moments that typically go unseen, the series captures team briefings led by consultants to anaesthesia being administered and the moment a baby takes its first breath. Photographs featured in the exhibition will be accompanied by short captions detailing the compassionate care provided by the team during caesarean section birth, which was the focus of this specific project.  

Talking about his experiences, Kent said: “NHS staff respected me quietly capturing life in the unit, guiding me towards details they wanted recorded. As the son of an NHS nurse, I was not only determined to document healthcare workers’ fragility but also the resilience and shared humanity that comes with caring for people and bringing new life into the world. It was a privilege to witness some of those moments and capture them with my camera.” 

Victoria Cochrane MBE, Director of Midwifery at the Trust, said: “It is fantastic to see these powerful images highlight the reality of a maternity unit and the dedication and passion of our staff that shines through. Our hospital is truly a remarkable place, with a real family and community feel to it. Many of our staff were even born on the maternity unit themselves, have had family members born here or have worked here for decades. I look forward to seeing these incredible photographs exhibited in our maternity unit for patients and staff to enjoy in the years to come.” 

Photographs from this project have featured in world-leading medical journal The Lancet and The Times. In June 2024, Kent’s portrait from the series of NHS Consultant Obstetrician Osaeloke Osakwe was awarded the British Journal of Photography’s Portrait of Humanity, an international prize showcasing the diversity of human experiences across the world. 

The exhibition will be shown at West Middlesex University Hospital from Thursday 26 September until Monday 14 October, funded by a grant from CW+. The prints will then become part of the charity’s extensive art collection and will be displayed permanently in the Queen Mary Maternity Unit for the benefit of patients and staff.