The EC4H National programme offers a range of workshops. Please contact us for more information or to discuss your training requirements. We can arrange a customised workshop to designed to meet the specific training needs of your department or team.
Professor Belinda Hacking set up EC4H in 2002 and has led the development of this national training network. She has worked with professionals in healthcare across the UK developing the EC4H coaching and training programmes in clinical communication. Until January 2025, Belinda worked for NHS Lothian as the Director of Psychology. Belinda has a special interest in shared decision-making in healthcare and has more than 40 publications focusing on psychological adjustment in palliative care, clinical communication and shared decision making. HCPC accredited. She was awarded as a Research Fellow to the Open University in June 2025 and as an Honorary Professor to Edinburgh University in October 2025. Prof. Hacking continues to work as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and has a busy clinical practise, alongside her teaching, coaching and research roles. British Psychological Society membership: 33194
Laura Huntly joined the EC4H Team in 2017 and supports the Tutor Team in the running and management of the EC4H programme
Dr Tamasin Evans is a consultant clinical oncologist in the Edinburgh Cancer Centre. She attended an EC4H senior doctors’ communication course in 2008 and has then joined the EC4H senior tutors’ group. GMC number: 4116646
Dr Frances Yuille was a consultant clinical oncologist at the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow before moving to her current post at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre. She was one of the senior clinicians involved in developing the postgraduate communication education programme in SE Scotland. She has been a senior tutor since 2004. Frances teaches a range of postgraduate courses and undergraduates at the University of Edinburgh. GMC number: 3249312
Dr Frauke Weidanz is a consultant in Critical Care and Acute Medicine in NHS Lothian, based mainly at the Western General Hospital. She has an interest in teaching and recently completed EC4H communication tutor training. GMC number: 6070477
Jennifer Pyper completed her EC4H tutor training through the NES sponsored programme in 2010. Her clinical background is as a resuscitation officer in NHS Lothian with a special interest in paediatrics. She regularly contributes to all levels of communication courses and is keen to promote workshops raising awareness and facilitating discussions about Children and Young People’s Acute Deterioration Management (CYPADM). NMC number: 82E0229S
Dr Edile Murdoch is a consultant neonatologist in Edinburgh, previously in Cambridge. She gained expertise in managing maternity and neonatal services, adverse event processes and palliative care pathways in NHS England and NHS Scotland. Edile has worked with national, network and government teams to develop frameworks in managing risk and communicating with families and has co chaired the development of national UK Frameworks for managing perinatal palliative care. Edile recently became a national specialty advisor to the NHS England maternity and neonatal programme developing safety signal systems. Alongside this Edile has become a communications tutor for EC4H (Effective Communication For Healthcare) and is a trained mediator.
Dr Judith Orme is a Consultant Neonatologist in Edinburgh. She joined the EC4H Tutor Team in 2018 and delivers EC4H workshops and Being Open training to staff in NHS Lothian and our partner boards.
Dr Ellie Caldwell is a dual-chartered Coaching Psychologist and Clinical Psychologist (HCPC registered) with additional training and expertise in Organisational Psychology. For over a decade Ellie specialised in Clinical Health Psychology - working as an embedded member of NHS multi-disciplinary physical health teams in areas including Oncology, HIV and Sexual Health, and Plastic Surgery. She also spent four years working in (and latterly operating as clinical lead for) a specialist NHS psychology service for health and care staff. Outside of her clinical roles, Ellie has proven track record in providing Organisational Psychology interventions and coaching (executive, leadership, wellbeing and performance, and team-focused) for organisations in the public and private sectors. With a strong background in co-designing and delivering training, Ellie has been a tutor for EC4H for many years and has helped to innovate our approach to training by integrating psychological models and methods - equipping trainees with a strong theoretical foundation to their communication approach.
Dr Claire Gordon is a Consultant in acute medicine and is trained in acute medicine as well as intensive care. She is based at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Claire is the training programme director for a range of resident doctors in training. She has an interest in patient safety, quality improvement and clinical governance. Claire also has an interest in complaints handling, significant event analysis and has worked with the SPSO. She enjoys being active outdoors and increasingly appreciates how important this is to balance with her working life.
Amanda has been a midwife with NHS Tayside for 17 years, working in all clinical areas but with a special interest in high risk and bereavement care. She was a senior Charge Midwife for 4 years before starting in her current post as Quality Lead/Risk Management Midwife, 3 years ago. Amanda feels very strongly that women and their families are part of the review processes and that their voices are heard. Amanda joined the EC4H tutor team in 2023
Emma Campbell is a Quality/Risk Management Senior Charge Midwife in NHS Lothian. Emma trained as an EC4H tutor in March 2023. She now supports the delivery of Being Open and EC4H training nationally and within NHS Lothian.
Dr Calum Arthur is an experienced psychological coach and performance psychologist, with extensive experience across high performing environments, including the Military, Olympic Sports and Health Sectors. Calum currently works as a Senior Lecturer in Surgical Performance at the University of Edinburgh, contributing to cutting edge research in surgeon performance.
Dr. Satyajit Ray is a Consultant in Paediatric Palliative Medicine working between Rachel House Children’s Hospice with Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and NHS Lothian Royal Hospital for Children and Young People’s Paediatric Palliative Care Team. He has been an Honorary Clinical Lecturer with the University of Glasgow supporting medical undergraduate training and has been an attendee at EC4H courses since 2022. He completed his EC4H tutor training in December 2025. GMC number: 7447498
This form is for contacting the tutor team for NHS Lothian.
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