Leanne Atkin
Vascular Nurse Consultant
Qualifications: RGN, MHSc, PhD
leanne.atkin@midyorks.nhs.uk
Find Leanne Atkin on:
Twitter | Research Gate
“Lower leg and feet disorders are often overlooked by patients, carers and clinicians leading to thousands of people needlessly suffering simply. We'll help put a stop to this.”
Dr Leanne Atkin is a Vascular Nurse Specialist, Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust. Lecturer University of Huddersfield, Council member of Society Vascular Nurses (SVN). She is currently the Chair of Legs Matter.
Paul Chadwick
National Clinical Director – College of Podiatry
Qualifications: MSc, PhD
pjc@scpod.org
“Legs Matter is unique. Unlike other campaigns it recognises the whole of the lower limb including the foot.”
Dr Paul Chadwick became interested in foot wounds from the moment he qualified, when on day one he was faced with a complex ischaemic foot. He has since strived to develop a whole system approach to the management of foot wounds so that ease of access to good foot services becomes the norm. To date this has achieved this locally and regionally in the North West, with the ambition to take this forward and make a difference on a national level.
Sarah Gardner
Clinical lead – Community Tissue Viability, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Qualifications: RN, DN Cert, BA, MSc
sarah.gardner@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
“No longer will lower limb conditions be invisible. Legs Matter will shine a spot light on suboptimal care and empower everyone to expect the best.”
Sarah leads a tissue viability team who are committed to improving the lives of people experiencing lower limb conditions such as leg ulcers. Through nurse and patient education and the application of clinical pathways Sarah’s team have been able to influence improved healing rates within the community. She is currently Deputy Chair of Legs Matter.
Jemell Geraghty
Lead Nurse Tissue Viability, Royal Free London, NHS Foundation Trust
Qualifications: RGN, BA, MSc
jemellgeraghty@nhs.net
Find Jemell Geraghty on:
Twitter | LinkedIn | Google Scholar | Articles
“This is the time to stand up for legs, behind every person with a lower limb condition is a story waiting to be heard.”
Jemell leads the tissue viability, leg ulcer inpatient and outpatient service at the Royal Free Hospital in London. She has a particular interest in the stories of hard to reach people living with lower limb conditions and has recently submitted a thesis in part fulfilment of a Professional Doctorate in Health Research (DHRes) at the University of Hertfordshire exploring the experience of injecting drug users living with leg ulceration. She is currently Deputy Chair of Legs Matter.
Alison Hopkins MBE
Chief Executive – Accelerate CIC
Qualifications: RN, DN, MSc
alison.hopkins2@nhs.net
“Our campaign aims to stop the daily harm of poor leg ulcer management for patients and the health economy. A very exciting goal!”
Alison started her lifelong interest in leg ulcers when working as a District Nurse in 1980’s. Alison developed as a specialist nurse, led the multidisciplinary East London Wound Healing Centre and founded Accelerate Community Interest Company. Her passion for increasing tolerance to compression bandaging has not wavered; she has pioneered an innovative compression strapping technique for hard to heal leg ulcers. She loves data and demonstrating how a system change can create significant savings to the health economy. Alison was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2018, for her lifelong commitment to improving the lives of people with significant lower limb wounds.
Brenda King MBE
Nurse Consultant Tissue Viability
Qualifications: MMed Sci, BMed Sci, RN, DN, ONC
brendaking@nhs.net
“Now more than ever, I'm sure there's light at the end of the tunnel. Our campaign will enable appropriate management of lower leg wounds to become the norm.”
Even before winning her Westfield travel scholarship in 1991, which enabled Brenda to visit centres of excellence in leg ulcer management, her passion for getting the management of lower leg wounds right and improving outcomes for those suffering with lower leg wounds has never faltered. Brenda is always striving to improve knowledge, skills and awareness of anyone involved or in contact with those suffering from leg ulcers.
Ellie Lindsay OBE
Life President - Lindsay Leg Club Foundation
Qualifications: OBE, BSc (Hons) RN, DN, CPT, Dip HE, FQNI
ellie.lindsay@legclubfoundation.com
“I'm proud to be part of the coalition representing Legs Matter. Together we will help shape and influence public knowledge and clinical practice.”
Ellie’s goal has been to put leg ulcers and associated conditions onto the healthcare agenda by seeking support from influencing decision makers (e.g. NICE, Parliamentary groups, Healthcare Commissioners and industry). She has been working in partnership with members of the public, Expert Patient groups, Department of Health policy developers, NHS managers and Healthcare professionals with an aim to raise awareness of preventative management of all aspects of lower limb related problems. Promoting good practice by forging relationships with nursing and professional organisations / societies, patient and industry groups, she regularly attends the All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG) and Medical Technology Group meetings (MTG), representing the Leg Club Members (patient) group.
Margaret Sneddon
Chair – British Lymphology Society
Qualifications: RN, RCNT, MSc (Research) PGCHE
margaret.sneddon@glasgow.ac.uk
“Through Legs Matter we have the potential to reduce prevalence and severity of many lower limb problems that impact negatively on quality of life.”
Margaret Sneddon is committed to enhancing lymphoedema education and practice in her roles as Chair of the British Lymphology Society (BLS), Honorary Lymphoedema Clinical Specialist in NHS Forth Valley and Honorary Senior Research Fellow in University of Glasgow.
