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"The aim of the Society is to support primary care professionals to deliver high quality clinically effective care, in order to improve the lives of people living with diabetes."
The Founding committee 2004, Primary Care Diabetes Society
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Forthcoming Diabetes Events

PCDS Smart update in diabetes: In light of experience: Newer therapies for type 2 diabetes: How do we make treatment decisions now - have the guidelines helped?
7th September 2010, Rheged Centre, Penrith

PCDS Smart update in diabetes- In light of experience: Newer therapies for type 2 diabetes: How do we make treatment decisions now - have the guidelines helped?
30th September 2010, Miskin Manor, Cardiff

Breaking down the barriers in type 2 diabetes: Answers to the key questions affecting day-to-day practice
19th October 2010, Radisson SAS Hotel, Birmingham

Breaking down the barriers in type 2 diabetes: Answers to the key questions affecting day-to-day practice
21st October 2010, The Met, Leeds

Click here to view all events

Dr Martin Hadley-Brown

PCDS Chair

Dr Martin Hadley-Brown is Senior Partner at the School Lane Surgery in Thetford, Norfolk and also worked at Elsie Bertram Diabetes Unit in Norwich from 1997 until 2004.

He is a trustee of the Norwich & Norfolk Diabetes Trust and a clinical tutor for the University of Cambridge Graduate Course in Medicine.

He was a member of the Primary Care Diabetes UK committee from 2001 and of the Professional Advisory Council of Diabetes UK from its creation in 2003 until 2006. He was a founder member of PCDS and has chaired the Society from 2005.

 He combines his professional interests of general practice, diabetes and education in his work with the Primary Care Diabetes Society.

He has led numerous educational meetings and initiatives, primarily in the UK and most often on the subject of diabetes.



Gwen Hall

Vice Chair

Diabetes Specialist Nurse in Primary Care and Clinical Educator, Haslemere, Surrey and Vice Chair, Primary Care Diabetes Society

Gwen Hall is a Diabetes Specialist Nurse in Primary Care and Clinical Educator in Haslemere, Surrey.

She is on the editorial board of the journal Practice Nurse and is Associate Editor of Diabetes & Primary Care.

In 2005 she was elected Vice Chairman of the Primary Care Diabetes Society.

Recently she has been responsible for updating Mary MacKinnon’s book Providing Diabetes Care in General Practice.

Dr Pam Brown


Pam has worked in Swansea for a quarter of a century. Throughout that time she has been interested in diabetes, obesity and cardiometabolic disease. Together with her highly skilled practice and district nursing teams, She helped deliver part of their practice's diabetes service.

 Having completed an MSc in Nutritional Medicine from the University of Surrey, and a Diploma in Sport and Exercise Medicine from Cardiff University, Pam has become more passionate about nutrition and lifestyle counselling in chronic disease prevention and treatment. Pam works with their 'exercise on prescription' scheme and regularly uses lifestyle prescriptions and coaching as consultations.

 She has and will continue to write about diabetes, obesity and nutrition for GPs and the public, and has run diabetes and cardiometabolic disease workshops in the UK and the US.



Dr Alan K Hayes

Treasurer

Alan Hayes qualified from Guy's Hospital in 1979.

He obtained a distinction in the Warwickshire diploma in Primary Care Diabetes.

He was a committee member of Primary Care Diabetes UK and is now on the Professional Advisory Committee at Diabetes UK.

He has been involved in conference organisation locally and regionally.

He lectures widely on diabetes and gastrointestinal disease.


Francesca Arundel

Secretary

Francesca Arundel has been a Practice Nurse in diabetes since 1993. In 1999 Francesca took up a full-time post, splitting her time between Portsmouth City Primary Care Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals Trust. Francesca's main interests in diabetes are structured group education, cardiovascular risk and erectile dysfunction. She has been a member of the DESMOND Steering Group for several years and is now a regional trainer for the south. In addition, Francesca runs education sessions, one of which is within a practice. At this session she sees patients every 3 months as an alternative to the 'annual review' and has found that this has been more effective than standard care - as well as much more fun!


Dr Brian Karet


Brian Karet has been a GP for 20 years and for the last 10 years has been running intermediate diabetes clinics in the community as part of the Bradford Diabetes Satellite Service. Brian's team recently won a Health Foundation award for innovative diabetes care.

Brian strongly believes that GPs and primary care teams can provide a high level of diabetes care given adequate training and funding and that the inception of Practice Based Commissioning will be an exciting opportunity to evolve diabetes care.


Dr Colin J Kenny


Dr Colin Kenny has been a general practitioner in Dromore, Co Down since 1985. He currently convenes the Northern Ireland committee of Primary Care Diabetes UK and has been appointed to the CREST group in Northern Ireland, which is examining standards in diabetes care as well as advising the Dept of Health in N.I. on diabetic eye screening.

He has been a GP trainer, and a GP tutor, and is currently a course organiser for GP registrars in Belfast.

In 1996 he became the inaugural chairman of Primary Care Diabetes U.K. During the three years he formed links with all the professional groups involved in diabetes care, promoted the largest every survey of general practice diabetes care, and helped launch the B.D.A. Primary Care guidelines. He has recently completed the largest survey of primary care diabetes care in Northern Ireland.


Professor Kamlesh Khunti


Kamlesh Khunti is Professor of Diabetes and Vascular Medicine and Head of Division of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Leicester. He leads a research group in the Department of Health Sciences and undertaking research into the early identification and interventions in people with diabets adn pre-diabetes. He is principal investigator on several major studies including DESMOND diabetes studies, the NIHR Diabetes Prevention Study, NIHR CLAHRC Programme, European GUIDANCE study and the multinational ADDITION study. He is currently an advisor to the Department of Health's National Screening Committee on Vascular Risk and Chairs the Department of Health - RCGP Committee on Classification of Diabetes. He was a founding member of the Primary Care Diabetes Society and is Secretary of the Primary Care Study Group of the European Society of Diabetes (EASD) and was the RCGP Representative for the Quality and Outcomes Framework Review Panel. He was awarded the RCGP's John Fry Award for Research for 2001 and the Mary McKinnon Lecture at the 2006 Annual Professional Conference.


Dr Richard Quigley


Richard Quigley is a GP practising in Glasgow. He has national committee experience, having been a committee member of MREC and Diabetes UK. Richard sees the PCDS as a forum with national aspirations which is not only desirable but necessary for debate and dissemination of best practice and research.


Julie Widdowson


Julie Widdowson has been a qualified nurse for 24 years. From 1990 to 2000 she worked as a Practice Nurse and it was during this time that her involvement with chronic disease management began. She developed nurse lead clinics for diabetes and coronary heart disease, working closely with a practice-based multidisciplinary team. As her experience grew, Julie became Nurse Advisor for West Norfolk PCG and was involved in developing training packages for diabetes for primary care.

For the last 5 years Julie has held the post of Diabetes Educator/Practitioner and Joint Lead for Diabetes in West Norfolk. This gave her the opportunity to implement diabetes nurse lead clinics throughout 23 practices, to develop diabetes education for all, including GPs, practice nurses, community staff and patients.

Julie is a trainer for the Insulin for Life programme (Warwick University), and to date over half of the practices are initiating insulin. As the Network Manager, she works closely with both primary and secondary care in implementing the diabetes NSF and NICE guidance.

Julie also sits on the 'diabetes survey advisory group' at the Healthcare Commission. Since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes herself 9 years ago, her understanding of patient issues has increased tremendously. Julie is an advocate for self-management and patient education so that people with diabetes can lead a long and healthy life.


Judy Downey


Judy has worked in the field of diabetes for 15 years. In that time her passion for diabetes has continued to grow! She has also worked for Warwick Diabetes Care as an Education Facilitator. Judy believes that the education of healthcare professionals is paramount in the provision of top-quality diabetes services.

Insulin initiation programmes, resulting in the vast majority of insulin starts happening in primary care, are run regularly, with on-site support being key to the success of the programme. Judy is involved in education programmes both for medical staff and for at-risk individuals and has provided the Warwick Certificate in Diabetes Care six times for her PCT. She is currently leading on provision of education for those at high risk of CVD and their families - including many people with diabetes. Judy has acted as Chair for the National Diabetes Facilitators Group for the past 2 years, and has been invited to join the Nurses Forum linked with Diabetes UK. She has also worked on diabetes facilitators' competencies for Skills for Health.



Dr Paul Downie


Paul is a GP Principal working at Alton Street Surgery, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, whre he has been for the last 18 month. Paul qualified from the University of Leicester in 2001.

 Paul is hugely enthusiatic about further improving the care of people with diabetes. We will all be faced witth managing increasing numbers of people with diabetes over the next few year, and Paul is keen to further improve his own and the overall management of diabetes care in general practice. He believes that prevention is a key factor and would like to see and be more involved in the prevention of diabetes in the first instance.

 Paul is shortly due to complete the Warwick Certificate in Diabetes Care. He sits on his local diabetes commissioning group, and is due to start as a hospital clinical assistant in diabetes and endocrinology shortly and has done much to further the care of patients with diabetes in his current practice over the last year or so.



Thelma Gardiner


Thelma works with professional healthcare education and accreditation towards intensive management in type 2 diabetes. She is passionate about chronic disease prevention and treating diabetes effectively.

 Thelma has 5 years of practice nurse and DSN experience; working in general practice, nurse-led diabetes clinics, and intermediate care in the PCT.

 She has completed a BSc (Hons) in Primary Care, as well as the Warwick Certificate in Diabetes Care. Thelma is a DESMOND and Insulin for Life trainer.

 Thelma has had articles concerning diabetes published in various newsletters and magazines, and has run several workshops relating to diabetes.



Claire Holt


Claire is a practice nurse and diabetes lead in an 11,000 patient practice in Coventry and diabetes research lead in the practice for the Diabetes Research Network. Her aim is to improve the lives of those with diabetes and their families both in her practice and nationally by promoting good practice, developing clinical guidelines and involvement in research as part of a multidisciplinary team. Currently working towards a Master in Health Science (Diabetes) at Warwick University, life-long learning plays an vital role in broadening her knowledge and delivering evidence based care. As a committee member of the Primary Care Diabetes Society she is able to be part of a team which works to improve education and development in the field of diabetes and as a member of the new research and education sub-committee wil be able to contribute further.



David Millar-Jones


David is a full time GP in Cwmbran and has established a successful intermediate care service withing the locality. He is also an associate specialist in Diabetes and a lecturer for Cardiff Medical School. This gives him a good working knowledge of secondary acare and educational needs and standards. David is also an executive committee member for the Welsh Endocrine Society (WEDS)- whose aim is to direct the Welsh Assembly Government regarding endocrinology in Wales.

 David stands for good standards of care, structure, education and support within Primary Care in order to be recognised as the principal arena for Diabetes management. There is is also a great need for the increased understanding of Secondary care as to the benefits that can be offered withing a community setting.

David aims to continue to promote intermediate care services and facilitate structured education.



Debbie Hicks


Debbie has been a Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) since 1990. She developed the Diabetes Nursing Service in Hull from being a lone practitioner to leading a team of eight DSNs. Debbie moved south to take up the post of Nurse Consultant - Diabetes with the Enfield Primary Care Trust in North London in 2005 and has led the redesign process by which diabetes care is now delivered in EPCT. Which pride themselves in having strong links with both their acute care providers.

Debbie has also authored over 40 publications both nationally and internationally and enjoys sharing good practice, and has been fortunate to present papers around the UK, New Zealand, Southern Ireland, Switzerland and the USA. Currently, Debbie is the Editor of the Journal of Diabetes Nursing.



Alia Gilani


Alia Gilani is a health inequalities pharmacist who has been qualified since 1999 and has worked for NHS Glasgow since 2001. Alia has a specialist interest in diabetes amongst ethnic minority individuals in particular South Asians. She has run outreach medication review clinics in various community settings: mosques, elderly centres and community pharmacies. She is a member of the South Asian Health Foundation diabetes working group. Currently she runs MELTS(minority ethnic long term medicines service) which is an open referral service and receives referrals from both primary and secondary care. She has won several awards: British Pharmaceutical Conference 2008 "Best Practice in Prescribing" and UKCPA "Sanofi Aventis DiabetesAward" 2009. Alia has a passion for patient care including targeting high risk and vulnerable diabetic individuals with a view to improving outcomes