NHS Lothian
The EC4H programme in NHS Lothian 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
Dr Belinda Hacking
EC4H Lead Tutor
Dr Belinda Hacking set up EC4H in 2002. She has worked with professionals in healthcare across the UK developing the EC4H coaching and training programmes in clinical communication. Belinda was trained by the late Professor Maguire in communication training. Her clinical role is as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director of Psychology for NHS Lothian. Belinda has a special interest in shared decision-making in healthcare. British Psychological Society membership: 33194
Laura Huntly
EC4H Project Support Officer
Laura Huntly joined the EC4H Team in 2017 and supports the Tutor Team in the running and management of the EC4H programme
Private: Dr Kirsty Boyd
EC4H Lead Tutor
Dr Kirsty Boyd was trained as a clinical communication tutor by Professor Peter Maguire in 1995 and has been organising postgraduate communication courses for over 20 years. She was Clinical Communication Programme Theme Head for the University of Edinburgh Medical School from 2002-2015 and she is an honorary clinical senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. Kirsty holds a Masters in Clinical Education from Nottingham University. She is retired from her clinical role is as consultant in palliative medicine at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. GMC Number: 2846907
Dr Tamasin Evans
Senior Tutor
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
Senior Tutor
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
Senior Tutor
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
Dr Alison Stillie
Senior Tutor
Dr Alison Stillie is a Clinical Oncologist at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. She has been a tutor since 2014. Alison is the lead for undergraduate oncology teaching at the University of Edinburgh and is involved in postgraduate training and teaching.
Jennifer Pyper
Nurse Tutor
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
John Raez
Tutor
John Raez has worked with NHS Lothian since 2007 with both Speech and Language and Physiotherapy community services. In his current post with Corporate Finance, John is providing project support for regional and clinical projects. He joined the EC4H tutor programme in 2017
Dr Melanie Gunning
Tutor
Dr Melanie Gunning is a Senior Clinical Psychologist with NHS Lothian’s Maternity and Neonatal Psychological Interventions service (MNPI). The service provides psychologically informed support for families engaged with maternity and neonatal services and the staff who care for them. She trained to deliver the EC4H and Being Open workshops as part of this role. Melanie previously worked with outpatient children, young people and families and with a specialist service for children and young people who had experienced sexual abuse and their non-abusing parents within Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
Dr Alastair Campbell
EC4H Senior Tutor
Alastair works as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in Edinburgh. He has interests in medical education and is committed to effective communication within healthcare. He has been involved as a tutor for EC4H for several years
Private: Evelyn Rodger
EC4H Senior Nurse Tutor
Evelyn Rodger is a Diana Children’s Nurse for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and is based in the neonatal Unit in Simpsons in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Evelyn did the EC4H training in 2016 and supports and delivers training for NHS Lothian and CHAS staff.
Dr Edile Murdoch
EC4H Senior Tutor
Dr Edile Murdoch is a Consultant Neonatologist and Clinical Director for Maternity Services in NHS Lothian. Edile joined the EC4H senior tutor team in 2016 and now supports delivery of Being Open and EC4H workshops in Lothian and EC4H’s partner boards
Dr Judith Orme
EC4H Senior Tutor
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.
Liz Ferguson
EC4H Nurse Tutor
Liz Ferguson is a Community District Nurse in Edinburgh. She joined the EC4H tutor team in 2018. Liz’s previous role was Practice Education Facilitator and in this role she was involved in delivering the Anticipatory Care Planning training programme for nurses and Physiotherapists in NHS Lothian.
Dr Ellie Caldwell
EC4H Tutor
Dr Ellie Caldwell is a Clinical Psychologist in NHS Lothian’s Staff Support Service, where she provides wellbeing advice and psychological therapies to Health and Care staff, as well as psychologically-informed support to teams and departments. She is a qualified conflict mediator, and is trained and experienced in providing executive coaching to individuals and teams. She has a special interest in helping leaders and highly skilled professionals stay resilient and work their best under challenging or changing circumstances.
Janet McGhee
EC4H Tutor
Janet McGhee completed her EC4H training in October 2021. She has been working as a Clinical Educator with NHS Lothian since May 2021, and her nursing career has included Family Nursing, School Nursing and Health Visiting
Dr Linsay Brassington
EC4H Tutor
Dr Linsay Brassington is Lead Clinical Psychologist for NHS Lothian’s Psychology for Staff Service, supporting individual staff and teams with psychological therapy, supervision and support. Linsay joined the EC4H tutor team in 2022 and uses this to enhance the support offered to teams across NHS Lothian. HCPC: PYL32180
Amanda Kane
EC4H Tutor
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
Dr Sam Hopkins
EC4H Tutor
Sam Hopkins is a medical oncology specialty trainee working at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre. She is completing her medical education fellowship with a simulation-based research interest in factors that enhance or hinder medical trainees' ability to adopt a growth mindset. She has been a tutor for the University of Edinburgh Clinical Communications Courses and has been an attendee at EC4H courses since 2020. She completed her EC4H tutor training in March 2023.