NEW FACES IN SCOTLAND AND WALES Meet the new guard at RCGP Scotland and the coming Chair at RCGP Wales
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r Rowena Christmas will become Chair of RCGP Cymru Wales at the AGM in November, taking over from Joint-Chairs Dr Mair Hopkin and Professor Peter Saul. Rowena's ascent to the role follows 22 years in general practice in Trellech, Monmouthshire. She explained how the experience of rural general practice has rooted the approach she will take to her new position: “It really is at the heart of the village practice. There is an energy from everyone in our small team helping patients who are our neighbours and friends. I want to lead the College in Wales in the way I see the practice working, without ego or hubris but with authenticity, courage and as part of a determined team.” Away from the surgery, Rowena lives in a smallholding with her husband, Gavin, two teenage boys, Will and Archie, three dogs, a horse and, what she describes as, “some ancient sheep”. In her spare time she enjoys running, cycling and supporting her sons as they compete in canoe slalom events. “There is a power in being connected to nature,” she says.
"Often, when someone looks at their predecessor, they think there are big shoes to fill. In my case, there are two pairs of big shoes to fill". Rowena has had significant involvement with the College and brought a paper to RCGP Council advocating a position supporting legislation to end physical punishment of children. She also represented the College during Senedd Committee hearings on the subject. She says: “Safeguarding is going to be my priority as Chair. It cuts across such a wide range of interest areas for GPs.
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n January the College introduced RCGP Scotland's Joint Chairs, Dr David Shackles and Dr Chris Williams. Together they are leading the work of the College in Scotland over their three-year term. Dr David Shackles has been RCGP Scotland’s Executive Officer for Interface and Out of Hours for the past two years. He is a practising GP partner in Perth, where he has worked for 26 years. David has been involved in GP training since 1996 and still enjoys his role as a trainer. Dr Chris Williams has been RCGP Scotland’s Clinical Lead for IT since 2018. He has been a GP for the past nine years and is currently working as a salaried GP in Grantown-on-Spey. He has also worked across Highland as a sessional GP including out of hours roles
I saw how Mair and Peter adapted quickly to guide the College through COVID-19 times and it is a reminder that none of us know what will emerge. I'm looking forward to the challenge and will be keen to work with others so that we can take the next steps for the College in Wales.” A member of the RCGP Ethics Committee, Rowena highlights her participation on the RCGP Cymru Wales "Leaders for the Future" course as influential in encouraging her involvement with the College. “It was an opportunity for me to appreciate how my experience could help colleagues. Since the course I've volunteered more and represented RCGP in the media. I'm hoping we can encourage more people to get involved in the life of the College over the next three years.”
after completing a remote and rural GP scheme. Since coming into post David and Chris have been relentless advocates for the profession; making the case that general practice remains open and seeing patients and demonstrating the work that the profession has been undertaking during the pandemic. Alongside continuing to prioritise improving general practice workload and boosting the GP workforce, the Joint Chairs have selected climate and sustainability as their policy and campaigns priority for their term of office. The selection of this priority comes ahead of Glasgow playing host to the COP-26 Summit in November.
NEWS
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