PCRS Webinar - AIR and MART therapy in the context of the new asthma guideline

Katherine qualified from Leeds University in 2000. She originally did a Medicine Rotation acquiring her MRCP before settling into General Practice. Since qualifying she has worked as a Locum GP and as a Partner and is now enjoying life as a salaried GP. Over the years Katherine has developed a keen interest in Respiratory medicine and is Respiratory Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership. She also works extensively with the Priamry Care Respiratory Society. Outside of work Katherine spends most of her time running around after her three small children. She also enjoys cooking and baking and has recently rediscovered her love for singing and joined a choir.

Deborah qualified as a pharmacist in 2000 with a first class degree. She has had a varied career starting off in community pharmacy and moving on to regional and national training roles within Lloyds Pharmacy and then into primary care in 2009, holding clinical pharmacist roles for Sheffield PCT, South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Commissioning Support Unit and most recently for the Medicines Optimisation team at Sheffield CCG.

In 2016 Deborah qualified as a pharmacist independent prescriber and during that training chose respiratory as her clinical area of interest. She was appointed as respiratory lead for the Sheffield CCG Medicines Management Team in 2016. Since then she has led on many pieces of respiratory work such as the development of the Sheffield asthma guideline and the Sheffield COPD inhaled corticosteroid withdrawal protocol. She has also developed many initiatives for inhaler optimisation for the city.

Deborah is a member of the PCRS Service Development Committee and Conference Organising Committee and is a core member of the Asthma Right Care team. She has contributed to various PCRS documents including Asthma Guidelines in Practice – A PCRS consensus. She has a passion for respiratory care and is focussed at putting the patient at the centre of care.

Outside of work Deborah likes to go to play hockey and run having run 3 full marathons including her favourite, the London marathon. She also likes to spend time with her family and particularly enjoys travelling.

After 5 years working in intensive care, Marieke switched to primary care and never looked back. Marieke is passionate about respiratory and is involved with local guidelines and processes. They are a Respiratory Champion, part of the PCRS Conference Committee and are most proud of (re) launching BRIG (BNSSG Respiratory Interest Group). The group meets monthly and discusses anything respiratory related; case scenarios, difficult cases, a general moan about things, what ever you like! This is all with the aim to offer more support to Practice nurses with a respiratory interest as it is often a puzzle to get things right, least of all diagnostics!