Meet the Team

Donna joined Staffordshire Training Hub in February 2021 as the GP Facilitator. Since this time a key part of her role has been to develop and host the NHSE GP Fellowship Scheme for newly qualified GPs. Despite the national funding for this scheme finishing 2 years ago, Donna and the team are still providing a local scheme of leadership skills training and support for newly qualified GPs and host cohorts for an annual scheme which launches at 6 monthly intervals.

She also leads a scheme which offers free mentoring and coaching to any GP working in Staffordshire. She is passionate about education and supporting colleagues especially during this challenging time for the profession.

Career History

Donna started her career as GP Partner in Leicestershire where she worked for 16 years. She has been a GP trainer for most of her career and really loves this aspect of her work and to nurture the development of the next generation of GPs. She has developed a portfolio career and has worked both as a salaried GP and a GP Partner. She has been a GP Appraiser, and was involved with the GP selection process for GP training for many years. Over the past 5 years she has really enjoyed her role within the Staffordshire Training Hub leading on schemes supporting the GP workforce and she is a GP Partner at Wetmore Road Surgery in East Staffordshire.

Family, Hobbies and Past Times

Donna is married to Paul and they have 3 children together, who have now all left home, but keep coming back!! Family life has always been really important and she loves it when her house is full of young people and their friends. The family has had many pets over the years. Currently she enjoys her “Grand dog” Obi, when she comes to stay (although the garden gets destroyed).

Donna also enjoys walking, swimming and yoga and has just taken up harp lessons.

Gill Boast is one of the Staffordshire Training Hub General Practice Nurse Facilitators supporting GPNs in their roles. As part of her role, she covers East Staffordshire and South East Staffordshire areas.

Gill is also the Primary Care Nurse Facilitator for East Staffordshire CCG. Gill has mentored and assessed student nurses throughout her career and is keen to encourage more placements with GPNs.

Gill is keen to raise the profile of general practice nursing and is passionate about improving education and training for GPNs.

She is a Queen’s Nurse, and has worked with the Queen’s Nursing Institute to launch the Ellen Mary Memorial Prize, in memory of her Mum, for the most outstanding GPN student on the Specialist Practice GPN programme.

Career History

Gill has worked in General Practice since 1998 and became a Queen’s Nurse in 2014. Prior to becoming a GPN she was previously a School Nurse, a Trauma Ward Sister and a Staff Nurse in A&E and General Surgery.

Gill has been a Senior Lecturer with the Community Nursing team at Wolverhampton University teaching on the V300 Prescribing, Health Assessment, Fundamentals and Specialist Practice GPN courses.

Prior to the pandemic, Gill represented GPNs on the Cardiovascular Disease Systems Leaders Forum and contributed to the National Wound Care Strategy Programme. She is also a volunteer on the Twitter group WeGPNs.

Family, Hobbies and Past Times

Gill is married with two grown up children and two cats.

In her spare time, Gill enjoys dabbling with watercolour paints, along with many other craft activities. She reaps the benefit of a weekly Dru Yoga class and also enjoys gardening, bird-watching and wildlife.

Jackie Edwards is the Practice Nurse Facilitator for North Staffordshire and Stoke. Jackie joined the STH in October 2018. Alongside this role Jackie works as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care at Madeley Practice. Jackie’s role at the Staffordshire Training Hub is to ensure relevant training is available to all nurses, that they are aware of its availability and are supported with their attendance. Post training, her role is to give clinical support in whatever form that requires (e.g. assessment, a simple discussion, face to face, telephone or webinar).

Career History

Jackie started working in general practice in 1991, moving from a Ward Sister’s post in Elective Orthopaedics at The Hartshill Orthopaedic Hospital to Madeley Practice. This was at the time of The New GP Contract and Practice Nurses as we know them today were being born.

Jackie has seen the change in the GPN role from GP hand maidens to fully autonomous Practitioners, gaining and deserving the respect shown to them today.

Jackie is a good old-fashioned Registered General Nurse; however she has gone on to complete many courses, including the Specialist Practice course in Practice Nursing in the late 90’s; a BSc (Hons) in Nursing Practice in 2002; and the Independent and Supplementary nurse prescribing and Physical assessment modules in 2004. She was honoured to achieve the title of Queens Nurse in 2015. In 2019 Jackie applied for credentialing with the RCN to gain the title of Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

Jackie’s experience gives her an understanding what support Nursing staff need with training (mandatory or specialised) to continually maintain and develop their knowledge in new and existing areas of practice.

Family, Hobbies and Past Times

Jackie has been married to Glyn for 35 years they have two sons, Tom is an electrician and George is a Graphic Designer living in London.

Their third child is Stanley the Miniature Schnauzer who is always by her side on all their caravan adventures and helping to dig on Jackie’s allotment. Any free time Jackie has is spent with her family and friends.

Louise joined the Staffordshire training hub team in Dec 2019 as one of the General Practice Nurse Facilitators initially for Burntwood, Lichfield, Tamworth and Seisdon but had an area move in 2021 to Cannock and Seidson.

Louise’s passion to support her colleagues and greater workforce is what interested Louise in becoming a GPNG, wanting to offer her time, knowledge, guidance and support to her fellow primary care team.

Career History

Louise qualified in 1999 at Walsall with a RN/Dip qualification, working initially in secondary care. Louise in 2004 secured her first Practice Nurse role in primary care, the same year as the introduction of Quality Outcomes Framework (Qof). Louise within her practice nurse role completed her Degree in specialist practice qualification in 2009. Louise currently works as a Nurse Practitioner/ Nurse Manager in primary care and is completing her final year on the MSC Advanced Clinical Practice programme at Staffordshire University. Louise during her time in primary care has a keen interest in Sexual Health and holds a Competency Certificate in the Insertion and Removal of Sub dermal implants.

Family, Hobbies and Past Times

Louise is married to Paul, who together have a 20 year old daughter and two dogs, her boys. Rags is a 13 year of Pug cross and Charlie a 10 year old Shih Tzu.

Charlie is Louise’s ‘wonkey donkey’ he has congenital deformed growth plates so mobility is poor, but Charlie goes everywhere Louise goes with the aid of his chariot.

Abigail started as a General Practice Nurse facilitator in May 2024 and is a Nurse Practitioner working in Staffordshire and Shropshire. Her role is to support the nursing teams in the North Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent area with information, training and supervising as they require it. Abigail is keen to encourage and influence nurses into joining and staying within primary care and I have a passion for promoting the role of the practice nurse to all levels of nurses from newly qualified to experienced nurses in need of a change.

Career History

Abigail qualified from Keele University with a Bachelor of Science in Adult Nursing in 2015. She started her career on the acute wards at the Royal Stoke University hospital. She then specialised into her first primary care role as a Respiratory Nurse, followed by a Lung Cancer Support Nurse and helped to set up the first targeted lung cancer screening programme within Stoke on Trent, working closely with the GP practices all over the area.

Abigail then became a Practice Nurse in Stafford and is now on the way to completing a Masters in Advanced Clinical Practice, due to complete in September 2024.

Abigail now carries out a mixed role of Nurse Practitioner, which keeps her skills and passion within practice nurse duties active.

Family, Hobbies and Past Times

Abigial has a partner called Alex, and are due to get married in August 2025. They have 3 dogs, which we refer to as our children. Frankie, Hugo and Chester.

Abigail spends most of her free time on hikes and walks in the countryside with the dogs, paddle boarding in Wales or seeking the sun on holiday.

Dr. Deepa Muthumanickam joined the team in March 2022.  She is passionate about developing and supporting a sustainable General Practice workforce

Career History

She has supported international medical graduates in her other roles through their training scheme journey. She is keen to learn and includes newer innovative workforce models in daily working life to help enhance better patient care.

Rachel Hughes is one of the new Staffordshire Training Hub General Practice Nurse Educators supporting NAs, HCSWs and GPA ambassadors in their roles.  Rachel works closely with Wendy Bailey and the GPNFs to help deliver training and development needs. She is passionate to help others develop, thrive and gain confidence in their roles. Her aim is to help the roles deliver safe, effective and excellent patient care.

Career

Rachel is a practising practice nurse in Staffordshire. Originally starting her career in secondary care at The Royal Derby Hospital on rotation. Gaining as much experience before entering primary care, where she has been for the last 14 years. First, as a community nurse in Swadlincote for 7years then into the role as a Practice Nurse.  She fell in love with practice nursing with how diverse the role is – the patients, the age range and vast number of skills and knowledge required for the role. Rachel has mentored student nurses and new GPNs throughout her career and continues to do so. With a passion for the role and teaching this is how she has fell into the new role of GPN educator. From her experience can relate to the pressures and demands within Primary care and roles within it.  With this understanding hopes to support and encourage the roles that she encounters.

Family, hobbies and past times

Rachel is married to Ben and has five children Leo, Alfie, Noah, Olly and Seth– Leo is now at university, whilst the others are still at school but growing fast.  All the boys keep her busy with all their own hobbies- being mums’ taxi and their own personal cheerleader.  At weekends you will find her at the football pitch supporting on the boys in all weathers.

She loves spending time with her friends, going out for meals, a quick coffee, shopping sprees or a good girl’s weekend away.  When has the chance travelling be it around the UK or abroad.  Making memories with her family and friends is her favourite hobby.

Jo joined the STH March 2022 as a job share with Deepa. Deepa will be covering the North of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and Jo the South region.

Jo is passionate about inclusivity, the development of the Primary Care Networks alongside core General Practice and a sustainable NHS workforce.

Career history

Jo trained in Leicester and after completion of her VTS 18 years ago joined her current practice in Wombourne. She is the Clinical Director of Seisdon PCN and values collaborative working.

Family, hobbies and past times

Jo is married, mum to 2 teenage girls and 2 Pomeranians. She enjoys meeting new people, reading and is currently binge watching Bridgerton on Netflix.

Wendy joined The Staffordshire Training Hub in January 2024 as a GPN Educator working alongside Rachel Hughes. Wendy is enthusiastic and keen to raise the profile of general practice nursing and improving education and training for all nurses within primary care. She retired in September 2023 as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner within General Practice following 40years experience in the NHS. She returned in October 2023 as a Retire and Return PCN Nurse working within Stafford Town PCN and Newcastle-under-Lyme Central PCN supporting and developing Practice Nurses. Wendy is a highly motivated nurse, experienced within Primary Care and demonstrates excellent leadership skills, with proven experience in clinical teaching, peer support and has the confidence to network and to work autonomously.

Career History

Throughout Wendy’s nursing career as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Practice Matron, Community Matron, Community Practice Educator and District Nursing Sister she has trained and mentored numerous nurses to diploma/ degree and post graduate level to become District Nursing Sisters. She obtained her Master of Advanced Education in November 2008 and has been involved in development, design, delivery and assessment modules and courses at various levels.

Wendy is committed to facilitate high standards of clinical practice and to promote General Practice as an attractive setting for nurses to develop new pathways to enable entry into specialist nursing. She also intends to develop networks to support nurses and reduce isolation and vulnerability in their roles. She aims to collaborate with learners in a coaching and mentoring capacity to promote best practice, motivate and inspire staff to achieve their best and encourage a positive learning culture within General Practice, whilst working in partnership with her colleagues from the STH team.

Families Hobbies and Past time

Wendy has been married to Kevin for almost 40 years and they are looking forward to spending time in Conwy North Wales where they own a second home. They both enjoy holidays and seeing other areas of the UK in their motor home and spend lots of time walking their two miniature schnauzers Bobby and Betty.

Catherine is passionate about the benefits of multi professional education. Her new role with the training hub will focus on the approval process for PCNs as quality multi professional education providers.

Career History

Catherine is passionate about the benefits of multi professional education.

Catherine has been working in Stoke on Trent since qualification and was a stoke on trent GP trainee herself.

Catherine also works as a GP partner at Furlong medical centre and is in the latter stages of a Masters in Medical Education.

Catherine is also the Educational Environment Lead for HIPC PCN.

Where she enjoys seeing the benefits of theory relating to practice especially the benefits of working and learning as a community of practice.

Family, Hobbies and Past Times

Catherine lives and loves her home town of Chester commuting daily.

In her spare time she enjoys being an amateur florist and walking her dog lilly with husband Steve ( plus or minus the apple of her eye Freddie the grandson).

If there was anything that would make life and career better it would be more summer nights and less winter and access to more Teas of the world.