GPs
- Dr Helen Alpin
- Dr Kirsty Baldwin
- Dr John Bibby
- Dr Ross Brown
- Dr Clare Connolly
- Dr Hannah Coysh
- Dr Jonathan Dixon
- Dr Sally Franks
- Dr Abigail Gabel
- Dr Surajit Ghosh
- Dr Danielle Hann
- Dr Katherine Hickman
- Dr Clare Hyland
- Dr Bert Jindal
- Dr Amjid Khan
- Dr Bryony Mathew (unavailable for new mentorships)
- Dr Vinod Menon
- Dr David O’Brien
- Dr Shaun O’Connell
- Dr Julia Thornley
- Dr Helen Wilkinson
GPs
Dr Helen Alpin
General Practice Experience
I was a full -time partner for 30 years, serving one of the most deprived communities in Leeds. In the last few years I have been working as a locum, for the Covid Clinical Assessment Service and I currently work 4 sessions a week as a salaried GP. My current role helps me understand the challenges that GPs are facing at present. I previously have had roles in clinical management/leadership and have had the benefit of having been through a RCGP Leadership Programme and being part of an international learning set. I have many clinical interests but I think my fellowship citation sums me up, “Dr Alpin is just a GP.”
Mentoring Experience
I was a GP appraiser for 16 years and a GP trainer until Feb 2020. I have been mentoring colleagues informally for many years but welcome the opportunity to do this on a more formal footing. I have mentored many GPs at every stage of their careers and with a wide range of issues they brought to discuss and work through. I enjoy supporting colleagues, as colleagues support me, and for me that is a very important part of being a doctor.
About Me
Outside medicine I love spending time with my family. I spent a lot of time playing out, including being a GB age group triathlete and playing/coaching hockey.
Dr Kirsty Baldwin
General Practice Experience
Previously I have been an inner-city GP partner for nearly a decade, then switched into salaried roles, locum work, and other roles as I got more involved in general practice education including other general practice professionals. I have also worked at the University of Leeds as a senior lecturer and as a Deputy Director at Health Education England heading up West Yorkshire GP Post Graduate training programmes. Currently I am a salaried GP three days a week in Collingham, Wetherby where I am a GP Trainer with the Harrogate scheme. I am also the Clinical Lead for Leeds in the Medical Chambers locum group and a GP NHS Appraiser.
Mentoring Experience
I have been lucky to have many excellent informal and formal mentors in my career. I think it is essential for wellbeing that we have dedicated time with a mentor during our working lives. I am delighted to have joined GPMplus as a platform to deliver this.
About Me
As a single mother of now two teenagers, I have constantly juggled work and a social life with family challenges and commitments. I unwind by walking my Greek rescue dog, Olive and occasionally I can be found doing aqua aerobics, gardening, and reading fiction.
Dr John Bibby
General Practice Experience
I was a GP Partner in a large practice in North Bradford for 31 years. Currently I am a GP Appraiser & Appraisal Lead for NHSE and Wellbeing lead for YORLMC. I am Clinical Lead for the GPMplus service. I have been involved in education throughout my career, both undergraduate and postgraduate, having been a GP Tutor, GP trainer, and VTS course organiser. Over the years I have been a board member of various organisations including PCT, CCG, and CSU and the National Association of Primary Care Educators.
Mentoring Experience
I have a passion for personal development and quality improvement, having been involved in both coaching and quality improvement at Regional, National and International levels. I have had a coach/mentor throughout my career and have experienced the benefits one to one support can provide.
About Me
Away from work I enjoy time with my grandkids and long distance cycle touring on my Brompton folding bike!
Dr Ross Brown
General Practice Experience
Having worked as a GP Partner for 11 years in Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven, I have now made the transition to a portfolio career working as a salaried GP and GPwER in Dermatology which allows me to offer flexibility through the week.
Mentoring Experience
I have an empathic supportive approach and personal experience of managing transitions between roles, the importance of work-life balance and managing a period of illness. I have a long experience of supporting personal and professional development – I been a GP trainer since 2008 and I am an experienced appraiser and mentor.
About Me
In my spare time I enjoy time with my family, the outdoors and photography. I have been a long-term contributor to the John Muir Trust Wild Nature publications.
Dr Clare Connolly
General Practice Experience
I am a happily retired GP. I worked in inner city practice for 30 plus years and was a trainer and programme director as well as having roles in medical politics /commissioning and appraisal.
Mentoring Experience
I’ve always been interested in medicine and the Arts and how each has a relevance to us all and can bring this experience into mentoring.
About Me
I enjoy lots of outdoor stuff – cycling, rowing and walking.
Dr Hannah Coysh
General Practice Experience
I have been an NHS GP for 12 years, working as a salaried GP initially and then as a locum. Over the past 8 years I have developed a portfolio career, working as a tutor at Hull York Medical School and a Macmillan GP. In December 2021 I completed my Lifestyle Medicine Diploma for the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine and use the knowledge gained from this to support my work in all of my roles.
Mentoring Experience
I have worked as part of the Student Support team at Hull York Medical school for 4 years, mentoring medical students across all years. Following my own personal experience of mentoring through GPMplus, I decided to move into coaching and have recently completed the Transformational Coaching for Doctors Diploma, accredited by The Association for Coaching.
About Me
I live with my husband, 4 young children, dog and chickens in a busy house! I am drawn to the great outdoors; passionate about open water swimming, running, walking and gardening. I have struggled in the past with my work-life balance, leading to some feelings of guilt and overwhelm. With some supportive coaching, however, I found ways to address these and now enjoy the variety in my work and home life.
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Dr Jonathan Dixon
General Practice Experience
I am a 4 session GP Partner in an urban Practice in Bradford and have been in practice for 20 years. I have previously trained GPs and am a GP Appraiser and Appraisal Lead.
Mentoring Experience
I helped design the GP Mentoring service locally and run part of the regional wellbeing/resilience work provided by the LMC. I have an interest in mentoring and supporting doctors in difficulty and in particular, helping them to manage complaints and adverse events in a positive and healthy way.
About Me
I am married to a GP, have 2 teenage boys and love playing Jazz piano in a trio. Work-life balance is a constant challenge (as there is so much else interesting out there…). However as a keen, but slow cyclist, I strongly believe it is important to enjoy the journey through life and not sacrifice present enjoyment for future gains!
Dr Sally Franks
General Practice Experience
I have been a partner in a busy, split site practice in East Leeds for 15 years and prior to that worked as a salaried GP. I have a special interest in diabetes and a passion for education. I relish my roles as GP trainer, educational supervisor and teaching quality seminar facilitator, all of which continually refresh my perspectives on primary care. I also co-chair the Leeds branch of Greener Practice – the UKs primary care sustainability network, engaging general practice for the health of people and planet.
Mentoring Experience
I have been a mentor now for several years, having participated in the initial pilot scheme. I saw this as a valuable thing to do as such support has been lacking for too long, especially in comparison to other professions. I myself have benefitted from informal mentoring relationships throughout my career, and am delighted to see the need being more formally recognised. I also provide mentoring on the fellowship scheme.
About Me
Beyond my own family, I have some experience of working with prospective adoptive parents. Outside of medicine you will find me in my unruly garden, listening to music or writing fiction.
Dr Abigail Gabel
General Practice Experience
Hello, I’m Abi I have been working as a GP for 14 years and have welcomed the flexibility to work both full and part time as my own needs and those of my family have changed over the years. I have worked as salaried GP and locum. I have enjoyed practicing in different communities from Goring-on-Thames to Scunthorpe. I am now a salaried GP in Scunthorpe. I have valued the opportunity to learn from and support colleagues in my role as appraiser and am at tutor for the Hull and York Medical School.
Mentoring Experience
The need for a mentoring service is very apparent and I have hugely valued the informal mentoring relationships I have had with colleagues in the past as both mentor and mentee. I have valued the opportunity to develop these skills through a previous mentoring organisation and now through GPM+.
About Me
I have two school aged children and enjoy spending time with family ideally outdoors (where they make less mess!). I enjoy music with enthusiasm but little aptitude.
Dr Surajit Ghosh
General Practice Experience
I have been a GP for the last 17 years, after working 7 years in the hospital sector. I have seen many changes in the NHS, both in Primary and in Secondary care. The recent Covid19 pandemic has enforced new ways of working for all of us. Increasing workload, bureaucracy and changes in patient expectations are some of the challenges in working in modern general practice. In my role as LMC chair, I have been involved in negotiations (with CCGs and Secondary care) and mediations (in practice disputes).
Mentoring Experience
Working in a busy semi-urban practice in Heckmondwike, North Kirklees, I have seen my experienced colleagues retiring early and several young GPs resigning and moving on. In my practice, I have now made policies to make salaried and newly qualified doctors feel welcome. My open door policy has made a difference for long-term retention of doctors in the practice. For the last 3 years I have reduced my clinical work from 9 to 6 sessions to maintain my work-life balance. I have been an appraiser for the last 11 years and participated in the Mentorship Pilot for Kirklees. During these meetings, I felt privileged to stimulate my fellow GPs to find new ideas and ways of choosing their own personal development plans to overcome their challenges and boost their resilience. Recently, I have been selected as a mentor for the West Yorkshire Fellowship programme and am working towards completion of ILM5 qualification.
About Me
I enjoy walking, photography and watching cricket.
Dr Danielle Hann
General Practice Experience
I moved to Yorkshire from London in 2006 and haven’t looked back! I did my GP training in Calderdale and Kirklees and my final year in a Bradford Practice. I stayed on there as a salaried GP and subsequently a partner. During my time as a partner we merged with a group of practices to form a single partnership and then a PCN. I was joint clinical director/medical director of our PCN until February 2022. I have also been part of the LMC for a number of years and am deputy chair of Bradford and Airedale LMC and also hold a medical director role with YORLMC covering Bradford, Airedale and North Yorkshire. In the last year I have also started as Wellbeing lead with GPMPlus and I do some sessional work as a locum in Bradford.
Mentoring Experience
I have had coaching and mentoring myself and went from being cynical about it to finding it immensely helpful and training to be a formal mentor and coach! I have mentored members of the team in my previous practice, I am an appraiser and I also do a lot of informal pastoral support in my LMC role.
About Me
I stepped away from my partnership last year as I needed to be around more for my two teenage girls who have found school during and after the pandemic challenging. I am also navigating the system of neurodiversity assessments for children and all that entails. I have experienced burnout and I am a continuous work in progress to keep life in balance. I would like to say I have loads of hobbies but in reality, it is spending time with the family. I spend winter on the side of a rugby union pitch and the rest of the year on a rugby league one watching my daughter play. I occasionally manage to crochet or knit a blanket or two and enjoy some DIY and interior design after recently completing our house renovation.
Dr Katherine Hickman
General Practice Experience
I have recently become a GP Partner working in Bradford and Respiratory Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate HCP.
Mentoring Experience
I am a certified Tiny Habits® Behaviour Change coach and GP mentor. After a period of burnout 6 years ago, which resulted in me resigning from a partnership, I have come to understand the importance of prioritising myself first before others which can be a hard, but vitally important, concept to get to grips with.
About Me
In my spare time I enjoy time with my three young children, cooking and yoga.
Dr Clare Hyland
General Practice Experience
I am a GP Partner and Trainer, working in the Leeds area. I also do some sessional work as a locum in practices throughout Leeds and the extended access hub as well as out of hours sessions. I have a strong interest in medical education and training, holding a role as a Personal Tutor in the University of Leeds medical school as well as being a CSA Examiner for the Royal College and a FY2 and GP registrar trainer.
Mentoring Experience
I am a GP and RO Appraiser and have also completed a training qualification in coaching and work as a coach with trainees.
About Me
Outside medicine, I enjoy the arts and playing netball and spending time in West Cork.
Dr Bert Jindal
General Practice Experience
I was born in Edinburgh Scotland & qualified from Bristol 1979. I’ve had a long and varied career initially pursuing Paediatrics in Yorkshire in all disciplines from neonatology to paediatric surgery. I’ve written academic papers on lupus anticoagulant and the genetics of true hermaphroditism. In 1984 I moved to York where I joined “B” scheme VTS for general practice. In 1987 I became a GP partner in Huddersfield and built 2 new surgeries, became undergraduate tutor and a GP trainer. I helped to design the National GP Audit project marking scheme and also formed a young principal’s group and later became LMC Secretary. I have been chair of various incarnations of primary care groups since 1997 and have been a cancer lead, clinical governance lead and past president of Huddersfield Medical society. Currently I’m a GP advisor to PKD society and the Society for Neurodiversity.
Mentoring Experience
I’m passionate about professional and personal development and quality improvement. I helped develop the Huddersfield GP mentoring pilot, and was a Mentor on the scheme, when it commenced in 2018. As a Clinical Governance Lead in Huddersfield I helped to design the local appraisal scheme, and was an appraiser myself until 2017. I believe that appraisal should be a formative process that encourages personal as well as professional development. I have always been impressed at how remarkable all of my colleagues have been.
About Me
I’m married with 3 grown up children, a cat, a puppy and a fish tank. In my spare time I am interested in the outdoors and have done skiing, sailing, scuba diving, cycling, canoeing and bird & wildlife photography.
Dr Amjid Khan
General Practice Experience
I have been a GP for 20 years and have a Portfolio career combining clinical work with roles as Primary Care Clinical Lead in Cancer Diagnostics, Coach for Health Education England, and GP Appraiser. Having qualified in London in 1994, I initially worked in hospital medicine for six years and achieved the MRCP before training in General Practice. I have subsequently held roles as a GP Partner, Leeds LMC committee member and Undergraduate Clinical Tutor for medical students.
Mentoring Experience
I hold the ILM 5 qualification in Coaching and Mentoring, and am a member of the Leeds Primary Care BAME network.
About Me
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife, who is also a GP and our three school-age daughters. I enjoy sport especially cricket, and keeping fit mainly through long distance running.
Dr Bryony Mathew (unavailable for new mentorships)
General Practice Experience
I am a portfolio GP working part-time. For the past 4 years I have been working as a locum covering regular and ad-hoc sessions 2 days a week in Leeds and 2 days working in a community clinic in my role as GPwSI in minor surgery. More recently, I have also provided telephone triage for the Covid Clinical Assessment branch of the 111 service. I have also been a paediatrician in a former life and still have a keen interest in the health of children. My other interests include women’s and sexual health, dermatology and joint injections.
Mentoring Experience
In addition to the above I work as a GP appraiser and mentor. I have 13 years of general practice experience and I have lived through the highs and the lows! I have previously worked as a GP partner and salaried GP in a large, busy practice but chose to make a career move after finding life hard to juggle with family commitments.
About Me
When I am not working, I am kept very busy as a mum to 2 boys (3 if you count my husband!). I also enjoy walking, running, cycling and eating!
Dr Vinod Menon
General Practice Experience
I qualified in 1991 and spent the first 10 years of my career pursuing Obstetrics & Gynaecology as a speciality. I transitioned to General Practice in 2003 and have been working in the field since. My current roles include being a Mentor, GP Principal, Chair of our Practice Management Board, GP Appraiser, Clinical Tutor at the Hull York Medical School and Physician Associate trainer.
Mentoring Experience
Though I have been involved in teaching and training through my entire career I trained as a Mentor just over a year ago. I see mentorship as a journey, that both mentor and mentee travel on, that is individualised to your needs, and sets you on a clear path to achieving your goals. Have you ever wanted change but didn’t know exactly what it needs to be and how to go about achieving it? Join me to see how we can make it a reality!
About Me
Outside of medicine I’m a keen gardener, baker (of bread mostly) and enjoy running Ultramarathons which take me on travels around the globe.
Dr David O'Brien
General Practice Experience
I am a GP in Huddersfield. I am a GP Trainer and a Personal Tutor for Leeds Medical School.
Mentoring Experience
I completed my Coaching training in 2019 and gained the ILM 5 qualification in Coaching and Mentoring. I really enjoy my coaching and mentoring work. Helping others to realise their own potential or overcome difficulties especially rewarding.
About Me
Away from work I run a rare breed farm with my young family. I am also a keen runner. I can usually do sessions on a Friday.
Dr Shaun O'Connell
General Practice Experience
I’ve been a GP for over 25 years and have been in a partner in Leeds, Tadcaster and Selby. Since 2012 I’ve been salaried at South Milford Surgery, near Leeds because most of my work since then for Vale of York CCG, where I’m called the GP Lead for Acute Service Transformation. Years ago I co-founded the National Association of Non-Principals, as sessional GPs were then called. Again years ago I was twice elected as a member of the RCGP Council, (but am no longer a member). I’ve been a trainer, an appraiser and LMC member. I know how the NHS works (or doesn’t) and I’m enthusiastic about Lean methodology which can sometimes help. My CCG work focuses on planned care, diagnostics, and prescribing policies. All of that involves working closely with hospital colleagues. I co-founded the CCG’s Referral Support Service. In 2021 this system will develop further into Rapid Expert Input merging referral and A&G pathways.
Mentoring Experience
I have had great support from coaches in my CCG work and that spurred me to attain the Institute of Leadership and Management (Level 5) as a coach and mentor. Over recent years I’ve worked with salaried GPs, partners, retainers and practice managers. Common scenarios are workload and burnout, career development, changes in role and doctors in difficulty. I’m told I am a good listener but also good at challenging and helping with some good practical suggestions.
About Me
After enough years of bearing the ups and downs of life in the NHS I hope I can help you. I’ve been married, divorced and now live with my partner and am a step dad to her two boys. I like cycling, skiing, dogs, Private Eye, Channel 4 news, box sets, IT, investing, hard rock…
Dr Julia Thornley
General Practice Experience
For most of my working life in General Practice I was a Partner in a semi-rural family practice near the Peak District. I then moved to Yorkshire to become more involved in Mentoring and Appraisal work and training, and I became a Salaried GP and then a Locum GP in North Yorkshire.
Mentoring Experience
My work as a Mentor to GPs in professional difficulty and my experience as an Appraiser in different regions have shown me the huge need amongst doctors for confidential personal support and how highly effective it can be. I have been involved in GP mentoring and coaching for twenty years, ten years ago setting up my own professional GP Mentoring initiative, which has been busy and hugely fulfilling ever since.
About Me
Besides mentoring and coaching in the UK, I am a volunteer primary care doctor, trainer, mentor and appraiser to a British Charity bringing health care to remote communities living in the hills of Nepal. I love being amongst nature and I am a keen mountain and fell walker. I am very involved in my local Otley community.
Dr Helen Wilkinson
General Practice Experience
I was a GP partner in a practice in Skipton for 29 years latterly I worked as a salaried GP. Education has been a long standing interest. I thoroughly enjoyed my role as a GP trainer, and worked as the TPD for the local scheme. I was involved in teaching medical students and was an F2 supervisor. These roles improved my own knowledge and repeatedly led me to reflect on my perspective of medicine and primary care.
Mentoring Experience
The educational contact with students and doctors in training supporting them and watching them develop led me into coaching.
I benefited from informal mentoring through my career. My own experience of being mentoring showed me how effective it can be. I have been coaching for Yorkshire and Humber HEE for some years and have been a mentor for GP+ for 3 years. I have worked with practice managers, GPs and trainees from a number of specialities and allied medical professionals.
About Me
Away from medicine I like being outside, walking, cycling, pottering in the garden and walking my dog. I am flexible in the times and the days that I can arrange mentoring sessions.
PRACTICE MANAGERS
Chris Brennan
Professional Experience
I’ve worked in my current role as a full-time Business Partner for a practice in a deprived area of Bradford for nearly 20 years now, having joined as a Business Manager in 2003. Prior to joining the practice I worked for 18 years in the energy industry covering various commercially focused roles. In addition to my day job, I also Chair a federation of practices in Bradford and I’m the Practice Manager resource for the LMC in Bradford.
Mentoring Experience
I’m passionate about supporting Practice Managers, GPs and practice staff in their development, and I see coaching and mentoring as a ‘tool’ to facilitate open discussions about the challenges being faced to help support your personal growth. I receive great pleasure supporting people through maybe difficult times they are dealing with, to assist them on their chosen journey.
Throughout my career I have shared my knowledge and experience as a way to support others, having lectured at Leeds University and I was part of an organisation that delivered a successful City & Guilds accredited Practice Management Diploma to aspiring Practice Managers.
Having gained an MBA in 2004 and being part of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 small business programme in 2015 has enhanced my belief that everything we do is delivered through ‘good people’. Studying for a formal coaching and mentoring qualification though the ILM level 5 programme provides me with the additional skills to support General Practice health professionals in the challenging times we currently face.
About Me
Away from the practice and busy day job, I’m a keen runner having completed numerous marathons and half marathons. I enjoy most sports including rugby, skiing and football and there is nothing better than walking the hills of Yorkshire.
I feel very lucky living in the beautiful city of York and I enjoy nothing more than relaxing by the river watching the world go by.
Richard Ellis
Professional Experience
I have 27 years of experience in management roles, both in industry and health care. Along the way I’ve had some successes and experienced some personal and professional challenges. I began working in General Practice in 2010, taking a post as Operations Manager of a busy walk-in centre. As my first role in the NHS, this was a steep learning curve and not as easy a transition I’d predicted it to be. Over time, with experience and support, I grew in confidence. In 2015, I took the post of Practice Manager of a two-site operation in Grimsby with a combined list size of 11,500 patients and approximately 50 staff. In 2022 we closed the smaller second site and we now remain a single site practice. Alongside my role as Practice Manager, I jointly support the management of our Primary Care Network, with specific responsibility for financial management. For a short time, I worked as a CQC practice manager advisor.
Prior to working in healthcare, I spent 13 years as a Manager and Director of a family run haulage company where I gained a solid foundation in small business management and gained good commercial awareness, as well as an HGV driving licence. In 2009 I steered the organisation to become the UK Skills National Training Awards winner in the small business category. We also featured in a national fuel efficiency program alongside companies such as Sainsbury’s. Before working in haulage, I started my career in accountancy after qualifying as an accounting technician. Of my other qualifications, I obtained a post graduate executive diploma in management through the Chartered Management Institute in 2006. In 2016 I trained in quality improvement (Quality and Service Improvement and Redesign). In 2020 I completed the Rosalind Franklin programme through the NHS Leadership Academy. In 2023 I obtained the ILM5 Certificate in Mentoring and Coaching and am now studying for the ILM7 Diploma in Executive Coaching and Mentoring.
Mentoring Experience
I am registered as an Associate Member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) and work within their code of ethics. I take part in NHS coaching café’s, supervision and masterclass training. The ILM Level 5 Certificate helped broaden my understanding of what coaching and mentoring is. I developed the foundations of effective listening and questioning, understood the purpose and importance of ethics, and started to explore the use of models and frameworks. The ILM 7 Diploma is deepening my knowledge and skills, by exploring a wider range of tools, theories and core coaching and mentoring competencies. I would describe my style as being orientated towards reflective inquiry, sharing observations and being curious to support reflection. I aim to create a supportive relationship with some challenge. I have really enjoyed the experience of coaching and mentoring and found it to be personally very rewarding, hence the decision to continue with gaining higher level accreditation. The experience has helped me develop as an individual and leader, increasing my self-awareness. It’s my goal to continue to develop as a highly effective coach and mentor.
About Me
I’m married and am a very proud father of two. Currently my daughter is studying at university and my son is in his final year at secondary school. Outside of work I like to be active, playing tennis socially a couple of times a week and walk around 25 miles a week with a very energetic spaniel. I have experience of living with a chronic health condition and support associated charities.
Lynn Irwin MSc
Practice Management – General Practice Experience
I started out as a Practice Manager in 2009 in Catterick Garrison (managing a Practice within a Military Garrison). I moved to the Central Dales Practice (deeply rural dispensing practice) at the end of 2013, becoming Managing Partner in April 2016. I have been a Director (currently Clinical Operations Director) with Heartbeat Primary Care CIC since 2017. During the Covid19 pandemic I helped design and set up a Covid Assessment Centre at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton to serve all Practices in Hambleton and Richmondshire as well as helping design, set up and manage a Local Vaccination Site at Tennants in Leyburn.
Mentoring/Supporting Peers
In the last few years since finishing my MSc in Healthcare Leadership I have trained as a PM Appraiser and undertaken the ILM Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring. I have also completed the NHSE Quality Improvement Facilitators Course. These qualifications have enabled me to help support a variety of PMs and other Healthcare Professionals through a combination of coaching and mentoring. This is a part of my role that I thoroughly enjoy – helping people to unlock their potential to be the best they can be.
About Me
Outside of work I enjoy mountain biking, reading and socialising with friends and family. I must confess to loving an odd spa day too, to truly unwind and switch off.
Andy King
Professional Experience
Hi, I’m Andy and I have worked in a variety of settings across primary care for the last 15 years. My current role is as a Strategy and Transformation Lead for a large PCN in southeast Leeds. Previously I was a practice manager and partner, in a North Yorkshire practice, for over 14 years. During that time, I became a founding member and director of our local GP Federation, which supports all 17 practices across the locality, with a population of 164,000 and manages and supports the four Primary Care Networks in that area. Prior to this, I had a 26-year military career serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps, in a variety of roles and deployments.
My career pathway has been extremely varied, but the underpinning aspect of my roles has been managing people and organisations, often in hostile or challenging environments. Change and challenges have been a constant throughout my career and adapting to the everchanging needs that they may bring, whilst ensuring that staff remain supported, in order that the public receive the level of support and care they require.
Mentoring Experience
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate enough to be mentored by a variety of people who have supported my personal development and growth, in a variety of environments. I have tried, not always successfully, to instill this into the values of the organisations that I have worked for. I was previously involved, via the LMC, with a local Practice Manager Mentorship and Appraisal programme, and I took away a lot of learning to develop my own skills and further my knowledge in this area. I also hope to complete the ILM5 qualification in the not-too-distant future. I believe the most important part of being a mentor is to build a strong relationship with my mentees. I want them to feel comfortable coming to me with any concerns or questions and I want them to know that I am there to help them succeed. I will also be honest with them and I shall challenge them to grow and develop.
About Me
I enjoy music, walking and I am an armchair supporter of West Ham. Until recently, I played Rugby Union regularly, but too many injuries have forced me into retirement.
My other interests include being involved in providing support for Veterans, along with hopefully, shortly, becoming an awareness speaker for Prostate Cancer UK.
Our children are all grown up and have flown the nest, but we now provide a mix of long-term and short-term foster care to young people.
Vicky Matson
Practice Management – General Practice Experience
I joined my Practice in Scarborough in 2016. Having worked in management and business, external to the NHS for over 20years I was confident I had many transferrable skills to bring to the role. I quickly came to realise, however, that I had a very steep learning curve to climb with everything else that was required.
We are a large, rural dispensing Practice based across two sites with staff members working across both sites. The Practice is also the Lead Employer for our PCN, and I sit on the Exec Committee for this.
Last year I led the Practice through a significant restructure which has provided me some capacity to focus on other areas of development. More recently, I have begun a secondment one day a week with the ICB to work with other Practices in the area on the formation of a GP Federation Provider.
Mentoring/Supporting Peers
I have been a member of the Primary Care Leaders Groups in Scarborough since I commenced in role and attend these weekly meetings with Practice Manager colleagues for support and sharing best Practice. I have found this group of colleagues to be invaluable for informal mentoring and coaching and have been an active participant in “giving something back”. I have mentored colleagues both within the Practice and external to the Practice and have previously been told I was a peers “go to person for a common sense approach”. I have benefitted from formal coaching and mentoring myself and found it a really positive and transformative experience.
About Me
Alongside the day job, I am a busy mum to a teenager and pre-teen with all the running about that that brings. They were 7 and 4 when I started in post, so I am very familiar with parent guilt. Increasingly now, I also find myself supporting the elderly members of the family a little more as they are not getting any younger…and so the juggling act continues.
I live in a lovely area of the countryside and so in the spare time I do have, you will mostly find me outside, simply just trying to take in some fresh air and enjoying the outdoors.
Karen Nicholson
Practice Management – General Practice Experience
I have been a Practice Manager for over 10 years in a large Leeds practice. Prior to my current role, I was Primary Care Development Manager for Leeds Primary Care Trust. This involved supporting practices with a variety of issues. I have spent the majority of my career either working with Practice Managers or running a practice. I am currently on the executive team for the Primary Care Network, which includes 7 practices.
Mentoring/Supporting Peers
The role of a Practice Manager can be very difficult and lonely at times, and I believe it is vital to have a network of peer and professional support. I have been very lucky that when I first started in Practice Management, I met some really experienced Practice Managers who helped, guided and supported me. Their expertise was invaluable and has made me passionate about supporting Practice Managers. Knowing that talking to someone who has lived and breathed the role helps enormously.
I have mentored GP’s who have lost their Practice Manager and asked for help recruiting a new one, and also mentored “new to practice” Managers. I previously chaired the Practice Manager networks in Leeds.
The ILM 5 programme of coaching and mentoring enables me to support Practice Managers even further.
About Me
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and love walking my Labrador Hunter. I am a school governor at a local high school. I am a keen supporter of my City’s netball team and I adore musical theatre. Balancing a busy job and an even busier family can be very stressful at times. Holidays are my happy place and my family and I love to travel, especially to Florida.
Adrian Roebuck
Professional Experience
I’ve worked in my current role as Non-Clinical Partner in General Practice for nearly 14 years now, having joined the NHS in 2010. I started working in a single practice and more recently worked to merge the practice with two other partnerships to become a large Partnership and a single PCN in Bradford. Before joining the NHS I worked for 23 years in senior leadership roles in food retail working with both small and large teams of colleagues. I feel that my time before the NHS also offers me a slightly different insight and perspective and it is amazing how much is actually transferrable between two seemingly different industries.
Mentoring Experience
For me, people are at the heart of what we do and seeing others develop and grow is so rewarding. In fact, I have been fortunate to work with many great people and experience coaching and mentoring throughout my career and realise the benefit it has had on me as a person. To this end, I wanted to ‘give something back’ so I recently joined the government’s Help To Grow scheme to be a volunteer mentor for small businesses and really value this work. I enjoy supporting people by offering help, guidance, support and empathy to help them work through their challenges and opportunities. Seeing people move forward positively in challenging times is very rewarding.
I am a member of the Association of Business Mentors and I am also developing my coaching and mentoring skills further by studying for the ILM level 5 Coaching and Mentoring qualification to support my mentees even more.
About Me
When I’m not at work or doing things with my family, I love cycling (slowly!) and where I live near Huddersfield, I am spoilt by the lovely countryside and surrounding views but it is a little hilly so does test the legs when out riding! I also, enjoy walking either in the local area or in the stunning Peak District. I enjoy landscape photography and gardening both of which keep me balanced in a hectic world. I’m a proud dad of two sons and now that they are young adults, I am also hoping that I might have more time to enjoy my hobbies instead of being ‘Dad Taxi’ (I live in hope!)
Joanne Rowe
Professional Experience
I’m Jo, a non-clinical partner in a medium sized practice. I am passionate about coaching and mentoring. Prior to my joining General Practice I worked in commercial settings in senior leadership roles, including a short spell with CQC as a contractor. Nothing is more constant than change in the NHS and during the last 12 years, there’s been a lot! The move from PCTs to CCGs; the introduction of CQC; the introduction of PCSE!; Federated working; PCNs; ICSs and in all that change as PMs we have to work through it, understand it and deliver on it, whilst at the same time trying to keep the team happy, the Partners and of course the patients! I manage a multi-site Practice and a PCN with around 45,000 patients. I was a founding Director and Company Secretary of what was at the time one of the largest, if not the largest PCN in the country, with around 150,000 patients before that evolved into a company providing resilience for General Practice by working at scale on projects such as local and regional deployment of Covid vaccinations. I have been through the NHS Leadership Academy and my experience spans the whole remit of general practice although I would say that my real passion sits with the human side of the business, so all matters HR including the now very real need to focus on wellbeing. As I start to step back from Practice Management, having been fortunate to be able to build a strong team and succession plan, I am now able to focus on coaching and mentoring and share with others the value that can be gained by simply allowing time for you.
Mentoring Experience
I have been fortunate to experience coaching and mentoring personally throughout my career; this has had a very positive impact on me. Practice Management can be very lonely but when I joined, I was taken under the wing of a very able and very experienced PM in the same locality, for whom I will be eternally grateful. As I grew in my role and in my experience, I found I was also able to offer support to new Practice and Business Managers. My desire to help and support others has continued to grow during my time in Primary Care. Prior to Covid, I was fortunate to be selected as Peer to Peer Reviewer for the LMC which I found very rewarding. Always keen to develop and support my colleagues, the Practice and PCN succession plan that is now in place, has evolved through regular coaching, mentoring and development sessions. Recognising the power that coaching and mentoring can have, during Covid, I completed the ILM5 in Effective Coaching and Mentoring in order to gain an accredited qualification in this area. I would very much welcome the opportunity to work with and support you in any way I can.
About Me
I am married and have two grown up children both of whom were fortunate to get married without significant change, during the last 12 months! I simply love being outdoors, whether that is pottering in mine or my Mum’s garden, going for long walks with my daughter’s cocker spaniel, practicing yoga, or simply being outside drinking wine with family or friends. My love of coaching and mentoring perhaps originates from my background in team sports but as I now approach the end of my career I feel I have much to share from my professional experience which could help others. I have loved Practice Management and have a genuine desire to now ‘give something back’. If you think I could help you, I would love to try.
Claire Woolley
Professional Experience
Hi I’m Claire and I have been a Practice Manager for six years in a rural practice with two sites in North Yorkshire. Prior to joining the practice I worked in Pathology for thirty years at the Friarage Hospital, James Cook University Hospital and Bradford Royal Infirmary.
My career pathway has been varied but I have always enjoyed working within different teams embracing all the changes and challenges together.
Mentoring Experience
I have been fortunate enough to experience some coaching and mentoring myself which has been both supportive and inspirational and these are the qualities that have made me passionate about supporting other health professionals. When I first made the change into practice management I found a great support network amongst the other practice managers which was invaluable.
I have mentored medical students, biomedical students and recently apprentices within the practice. I also conduct over twenty five annual appraisals within practice and monitor all staff training keeping all records up to date.
I am commencing my ILM 5 qualification in coaching and mentoring which will enable me to support you in any way I can.
About Me
As a single mother of two, now late teens early twenties children I have organised work/home life balance with all the challenges and commitments that brings. I have three dogs who give me the great excuse to spend plenty of time outside walking and exploring both the dales and coast. I also enjoy Pilates, gym classes and badminton.
I have loved the change from secondary to primary care and have a genuine passion to support others in the ever demanding healthcare world.
NURSE MENTORS
Catherine Gill
Practice Management – General Practice Experience
I have worked in the NHS since 1979 with a predominately General Practice career since 1990. After 7 years as a General Practice Nurse (GPN), I qualified as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) and became involved in lobbying for an alteration in UK legislation to grant prescribing privileges for specialist and advanced clinical practitioners. I was appointed the module manager of the Prescribing programme at the University of Leeds, retiring in 2021. Throughout this period, I authored and co-authored several publications on prescribing and contributed chapters to various practice books on the subject.
Along with 2 other ANPs and 2 GPs I was involved in successfully tendering for a General Practice Contract serving 9,200 patients across 3 surgeries in Halifax. Our aim to turn these 3 practices into a modern, efficient, innovative teaching practice was realised through a strong ethos of interprofessional working and a dedication to providing a caring family practice experience for patients. After successfully running the practice for 17 years I retired from partnership in 2020.
I am one of the nurse Clinical Lead with the West Yorkshire Primary Care Workforce and Training (WY PCWT) Hub with a key role in supervising the WY GPN Vocational Training Scheme (VTS). More recently I have also taken on the role as Educational Lead overseeing the educational aspects of the various training schemes offered by the WY PCWT Hub.
Mentoring/Supporting Peers
In terms of mentoring, I have been involved with the GPN Fellowship Programme for Nurses new to General Practice for 3 years and also the GPN Development Fellowship for mid-career GPNs for the last year. I am currently working to complete the Institute of Leadership and Management 5 (ILM5). GMP+ have been a great support for both Mentors and Mentees. Assisting others in recognising their potential and conquering challenges is incredibly fulfilling in the mentoring/coaching role.
About Me
I enjoy dancing, mountain biking, skiing and my children and grandchildren.
Wendy Iles
Practice Management – General Practice Experience
I have worked
within nursing for 46 years, initially specialising in Orthopaedics and
Accident & Emergency. When I had three children, and hospital shifts became
difficult, I moved into primary care, where I spent over 25 years: undertaking
a Degree in Practice Nursing and obtaining the specialist practitioner
qualification in 1994. Continuing in academic education soon after and becoming
an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in 2002 I joined a partnership and together we
successfully tendered for a PMS contract. I was a general practice partner for
16 years. I am a strong advocate for the nursing profession and am involved in
the development and training of the Primary Care Workforce.
Mentoring/Supporting Peers
Whilst working in Accident & Emergency I undertook a counselling qualification, which has been useful throughout my career. As a senior nurse I have informally mentored nursing colleagues and so I am currently studying for a formal coaching and mentoring qualification (the ILM5) and hope to continue this in a more formal role going forward.
About Me
Heading towards retirement, I like to seek adventures – cycling across Europe, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, or rowing up the Seine, and wish I had started doing yoga forty years ago!
Alison Walker
Practice Management – General Practice Experience
Having worked in General Practice for over 25 years, I am convinced that General Practice is the best place to work in the NHS. I did the rounds of most of the hospitals in Leeds prior to coming into Primary Care but it has been Practice Nursing that had provided me with the variety and stimulation to learn and develop skills to
improve patient care provided by myself and my colleagues.
Mentoring/Supporting Peers
I became involved with mentoring when the fellowship scheme opened for nurses. It has been a joy and privilege to share another nurses’ journey as they start out in practice nursing. I am looking forward to extending this with GPM plus with practice nurses who have been in the role for several years. I have found my teaching experiences together with gaining the ILM 5 qualification in coaching and mentoring have helped me to develop as a mentor.
About Me
Away from work, I enjoy walking, playing the piano and spending time with my family.
Susan Wallis
Practice Management – General Practice Experience
I have been a Practice Nurse for 20yrs and was a Nurse Manager in a Bradford Practice for 13 of those. 8 years ago I was recruited to the West Yorkshire Training Hub as their Lead Nurse and won a Leadership Award with HEE the following year. I have also had a 2yr secondment with HEE as Training Programme Director for Wider Workforce before settling into my current role as Clinical, Quality and Safety Lead for Five Parks Primary Care Network in Bradford 3 days per week. I continue to work 1 day per week as a Practice Nurse.
Mentoring/Supporting Peers
I have been lucky enough to be able to Mentor, support and assess many learners in my Nursing Career so far going back to ward level many years before my career started in General Practice and will continue to champion it’s benefits. I only wish I’d had the opportunity to access GPMPlus when I first started in General Practice.
About Me
I am a proud Mum of two daughters and Nana to two grandsons who are my absolute joy. I am a keen walker and football/cricket supporter which gives me live sport to enjoy all year round. Watching overseas tours in sunny climates is the retirement goal.