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
Independent Clinical Consultant, Wound Matters
Qualifications: RN, DN Cert, BA, MSc
sarah.gardner@woundmatters.co.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 led a community tissue viability team in Oxfordshire before leaving the NHS in 2020. She now runs her own Tissue Viability consultancy business, working with a range of organisations to help improve the lives of people with chronic wounds such as leg ulcers. She does this through education, clinical guidance and expert advice. Sarah is a Trustee for the Tissue Viability Society and is currently vice Chair of the Legs Matter group.
Jemell Geraghty
Nurse Consultant Tissue Viability, Turning Point
Qualifications: PhD, DHRes, MSc, BN, RGN
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.”
Dr Jemell Geraghty, has worked in primary and secondary wound care services and has over 16 year’s of experience in tissue viability, including vascular, older adult and emergency medicine nursing. Currently Jemell is leading a new wound-clinic pilot in central London for the provision of specialist wound care for people experiencing homelessness and those with a history of addiction. In 2019 she has been appointed Module Lead for Tissue Viability at Kings College, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery London. She also is co-vice chair for the Legs Matter campaign. Dr Geraghty sits on the editorial board for the British Journal of Nursing and has been involved with publishing and presenting on a national and international level. Dr Geraghty is passionate about inclusion health, nursing care and patient experience.
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.
Gail Powell
Nurse Specialist, Wound Care Service
Qualifications: Queens Nurse, Bsc (Hons) RGN, DN
g.powell@nhs.net
“It has never been so important to help clinicians and patients with lower limb issues to help improve their Quality of Life and cut down on complications in later life. Information and education is a key factor to improvements.”
Gail works in the Wound Care Service Sirona Care and Health and is Team lead for Bristol. She developed a passion for lower limb wounds while undertaking District nurse diploma at UWE Bristol, while visiting Cardiff healing Centre/ Clinics in 1992. She is an Executive Committee Member of the Leg ulcer Forum and works with colleagues to deliver education and training in lower limb issues and ABPI. Gail set up a leg ulcer clinic and wound clinics in Bristol.
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
Interim Vice Chair – British Lymphology Society
Qualifications: RN, RCNT, MSc (Research) PGCHE
m.sneddon@thebls.com
“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 Interim Vice Chair of the British Lymphology Society (BLS) and Honorary Senior Research Fellow in University of Glasgow.
