Your Voice, Our Network: Elevating General Practice Nursing Together

Hosted by the Dorset General Practice Alliance

Autumn Membership Event 2025
8th October 2025, 1-4.30pm
The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Wimborne, BH21 3AP

6
SPEAKERS

GIFTS

4
TABLES

3
SELF CARE

STATIONS

7
STANDS

What to expect from the Autumn Membership Event?

The event is designed to bring nursing professionals together. You can expect engaging speakers, interactive discussions, and self care stations, all in a welcoming and supportive environment. It’s a chance to connect with like-minded peers, share experiences, explore common challenges, and build new relationships within a growing network where your voice truly matters.

Free refreshments will be available throughout the event, and while it’s open to all, priority will be given to nurses, nurse managers, general practice nurses working in practices or PCNs, and those working within Dorset HealthCare.

Welcome & Introductions

Dr Simone Yule - Deputy Chair of the Alliance

Dr Simone Yule is a GP partner in North Dorset. She has been actively involved with the CCG and has an interest in Population Health Management. She is a national clinical advisor for PHM and is the Clinical Director for the Vale Network. Simone represents the practices in the West of the County.

Speakers

Dr Sarah Kay - GP Clinical Lead for Quality & Patient Safety, NHS Dorset

Dr Sarah Kay has worked for the last three years as the GP Clinical Lead for Quality and Patient safety at NHS Dorset as part of the Patient Safety Team.

Her other portfolio roles include working as a salaried GP in Weymouth, GP appraiser, Medical Examiner for West Dorset, and as a Salaried GP for Dorset Healthcare at Bridport Community Hospital. She also does some freelance medical education work.

She has previously had roles working in quality improvement, and health promotion and has been based in Dorset since 2007.

Clare Mechen - Nurse Lead, Dorset General Practice Alliance

Clare is a Senior Nurse working as Nurse Manager at The Adam Practice and Clinical Lead for Nursing/AHP at Poole Central Primary Care. Clare is also currently working part time as the ICB GPN Strategic Lead to ensure there is a primary care nursing voice at system level. With 31 years of NHS nursing and being awarded the Queens Nurse Title in recognition for her commitment to delivery and leadership for care in community care, she is passionate about quality improvement, in particular, seeking innovative ways of working to deliver optimal patient focused care. Clare advocates for Nurses ‘having a seat at the table’ in relation to healthcare leadership.

Alisha Jenkins, National Programme Manager, ELC Works

Alisha has been working with ELC since 2021. When she was a health and wellbeing coach, she initially focused on delivering group clinics for individuals living with pre-diabetes and obesity in rural Herefordshire. Her expertise lies in personalisation, behaviour change, and coaching. She later delivered a health inequality project, supporting people living with Fibromyalgia through group clinics.

Over time, Alisha transitioned into programme management roles, where she honed her skills in personalised care and integrated care. She developed a strong foundation in quality improvement, project management, and overcoming resistance to change.

In January 2025, Alisha took on the role of National Programme Manager for the group clinic programme at ELC. In this capacity, she is committed to shaping the future of group clinics and enhancing the impact of personalised care across the United Kingdom.

Louise Brady - Primary Care Nursing Lead, NHS England

Louise has dedicated 25 years of her nursing career to supporting general practice and primary care, working clinically for much of that time. In 2014, she was one of the first general practice nurses in the North of England to pioneer shared medical appointments for people living with long-term conditions—an integrative model still in use today.

Her leadership roles include serving as Primary and Community Nurse Lead for Greater Manchester (2017–2019) and as a national executive member of the NHS Alliance (2015–2018). She has also advised on community care policy as part of the BMA’s Community Care Committee (2019–2022).

Alongside her clinical work, Louise is deeply engaged in community partnership, adult social care, and voluntary sector collaboration, with a focus on integration, wellbeing, and co-production. She works with national nursing leaders to champion the visibility and sustainability of the general practice and primary care nursing workforce, which she describes as “an expert, skilled workforce hidden in plain sight.”

Damian Cranny - Fraud Protection Officer

Spotting the signs of fraud - At our upcoming nursing event, Fraud Protection Officer, Damian Cranny will be sharing top tips on how to protect yourself and others from scams and fraud

Courier Fraud

Foam Fraud

UK's Big Night In Fraud

Dr Tamsin Betts - Wellbeing Coach

Tamsin is a qualified doctor, yoga teacher, and coach, supporting professionals through yoga, mindfulness, and career coaching. A former GP, she understands both the challenges and rewards of working in the NHS, where she retains close links.

Passionate about health, well-being, and nutrition, she helps individuals enhance performance and balance by aligning personal values with professional goals.

Since gaining an ILM Level 7 in Coaching and Mentoring in 2019, Tamsin has coached a wide range of medical and non-medical clients. She also works with the Wessex Professional Support Unit, co-running the career coaching department, and holds additional qualifications in Career Development and Coaching Supervision.

Programme

1pm – Arrival, lunch, and refreshments - Opportunity for networking

2pm – Welcome and introductions - What does the 10 year plan mean for nurses? - Dorset General Practice Alliance

2.10pm – Nursing Networks and the Community of Practice- Clare Mechen, Professional Nurse Lead, Dorset General Practice Alliance

Elevating the General Practice Nursing Role at National Level (Video: Louise Brady, Primary Care Nursing Lead, NHS England)

2.25pm - Patient Safety: Examples & Updates - Dr Sarah Kay, GP Clinical Lead for Quality & Patient Safety, NHS Dorset

2.40pm - Group Clinics - Clare Mechen, Professional Nurse Lead for the Alliance

What are Group Clinics? (Video: Alisha Jenkins, National programme Manager, ELC Works)

2.50pm - Wellbeing

Dorset Police: Information on Fraud - Damian Cranny, Fraud Protection Officer
How to look after yourself - Dr Tamsin Betts, Wellbeing Coach

3.15pm - Coffee Break / Self-Care Stations / Stands

3.30pm - Table Visits - 15 minute rotations

Lower Limb pathway: Joanne Magern, Senior Primary & Community Care Lead, NHS Dorset
INT Nursing workstreams: Ruth Davis, Programme Manager, Dorset County Hospital
Community of Practice: Clare Mechen, Professional Nurse Lead, Dorset General Practice Alliance & Clare Byrne, ACP, NHS Dorset
Respiratory Network: Cheryl O’Sullivan, Chief Nursing Information Officer, NHS Dorset
Workforce Strategy: Sarah Tilbury, Head of Practice Development, NHS Dorset

4.30pm - Reflections / Next Steps - Clare Mechen, Professional Nurse Lead, Dorset General Practice Alliance

4.40pm - Close