PCDS Committee elections: Cast your vote at the 8th National Conference

The PCDS is actively involved in working to improve the care of people with diabetes. The society, now in its eighth year, holds exciting and educational conferences in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The constitution of the society states that members of the Committee must stand for election after 3 years or if they were co-opted onto the committee. There will be an opportunity to vote at the up-coming 8th National Conference (click here for programme and booking details). Details of the members of the Committee who are standing for election this year can be found below.

Nigel Campbell is a GP in Lisburn, Northern Ireland and is Chair of South Eastern Local Commissioning Group. He has been a Northern Ireland representative of the PCDS committee for the past 3 years and has been involved in organising all-Ireland educational meetings for the past 4 years. Dr Campbell is responsible for founding a Northern Ireland PCDS committee with representation from across the province and from many professions. 

“There was much excitement about our second Northern Ireland PCDS conference that was held in October this year. There is a real interest in further development of a primary-care-led diabetes service in Northern Ireland. I will continue to work both locally and regionally to ensure our patients receive a first-class service.”

Julie Widdowson has been a qualified nurse for over 30 years and has specialised in diabetes management for the last 15 years, first as a practice nurse, setting up the first nurse-led clinic in Norfolk, and for the last 12 years leading on Diabetes Care in West Norfolk. Julie has also run a community-based service with a small team and for the last 2 years has also been supporting and educating all staff within Norfolk Community Health and Care, which includes 13 Community Hospitals, 1500 Community Nurses and three prisons. 

Julie is a current committee member of the PCDS and speaks across the UK advocating the importance of self-management for people living with diabetes, not only from a professional point of view, but also as someone living with type 1 diabetes. 

Naresh Kanumilli has been a GP in south Manchester for the past 8 years and has a specialist interest in diabetes and cardiology. 

“I currently run a diabetes intervention clinic and am actively involved with the current integration agenda in order to provide patients seamless care between primary and secondary care. I am also the Quality and Performance lead for the south Manchester clinical commissioning group and my role involves reducing variation in the provision of care across all conditions in our CCG. In addition I am actively involved in GP training and training of nurses. In my spare time I raise money for the National Autistic Society by running marathons, as I have a daughter who is autistic.”

Kamlesh Khunti is a GP in an inner city practice in Leicester. 

“I would like to continue to serve on the PCDS to drive the research activities of the group, with the aim of promoting primary-care-led research evidence to inform clinical practice. PCDS is currently leading the first Primary-Care Hypoglycaemia study and I would like to see further developments in research-based primary care.” 

Martin Hadley-Brown, a GP in Thetford and Clinical Tutor in Cambridge, was one of the founder members of PCDS and has Chaired the Society since 2005. 

“I should like to continue to work through the PCDS both at a local and national level to support those of all professional disciplines who deliver diabetes care in our communities. Our challenges are growing, and therefore the support we offer members through educational services and advocacy activities on their behalf must continue to develop. I shall continue to contribute to that work.”

Tony O’Sullivan is a GP in Dublin who has type 1 diabetes. 

“I have a long involvement in patient and professional diabetes matters. I am currently running a national multidisciplinary distance-learning course in diabetes for the Irish College of General Practitioners, and participate in a shared care scheme in Dublin. I have been involved in the planning and organisation of PCDS meetings in Ireland for the past 4 years. I hope to continue this as we await political implementation of diabetes care in general practice in Ireland.”