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Meet the Team

Our diverse team includes dedicated staff from various aspects of Primary Care:

Deep End Cymru Chairman: Dr Neil James

Our chairman; Dr Neil James, is a full time general practitioner working in Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni in the Gwent Valleys. The practice has over 18,000 patients in an area of extreme social deprivation. Over the past 20 years Neil and his GP colleagues have established a practice from a state of vacancy to a new collaborative partnership. The practice has continued to develop by merging with other smaller practices locally in the Rhymney Valley and building sustainability and quality along the way. He is originally from Caerphilly but has worked as a general practitioner overseas and in different parts of the UK. 

 

Deep End Cymru Deputy Chair: Mrs Joanna Watts-Jane

Joanna deputises for and supports Neil alongside her role as a full time practice manager. She has a wealth of experience in the operational running of general practice  in different areas of deprivation. Joanna currently manages Hirwaun Medical Centre, having formerly been in an inner city Newport practice for 3 years and in the Blaenau Gwent Valley for 4 years. Joanna has an interest in ensuring practices are enabled to provided safe, high quality and inclusive health care, she has been involved with the creation of national bespoke training for practice support staff.

 

Public Health Lead: Dr Kathrin Thomas

Dr Kathrin Thomas is a retired GP and Consultant in Public Health. Kathrin has focussed on tackling health inequity, both working as a family doctor in the most deprived communities in Liverpool and the South Wales Valleys, and in a variety of strategic public health roles. She is a Bevan Commission Senior Fellow focusing on maximising the health sector contribution to tackling health inequities. She is Co-Chair of the UK Faculty of Public Health Special Interest Group for Primary Care and Public Health and a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners Health Equity Special Interest Group. She also has an interest in global health, as recent past Chair of the Wales and Africa Health Links Network, and remains involved in a long-term partnership between Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the Ministry of Health in Lesotho.

Education and Training Lead: Dr Rebecca Jenkinson

Rebecca is a GP partner at The Kingsway Surgery in Swansea, a Deep End practice serving some of the most deprived communities in the city. She is a GP Programme Director for Swansea Bay with HEIW and clinical lead for the Health Inequalities actions within the Workforce Plan for Primary Care. Rebecca also works as a Clinical Lead within the Swansea Bay Practice Support Team, supporting practices to navigate challenges and build sustainability. Born and raised in Swansea, she is committed to improving training, recruitment, and equitable access to high-quality primary care in Deep End areas.

Policy Lead: Dr Jonny Currie

Jonny is a GP partner and clinical lead in Ringland Medical Practice, a GP practice serving a deindustrialised area in the east of Newport close to the old Llanwern steelworks. He is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at Cardiff University and is also a qualified Public Health Consultant with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. He is passionate about the use of data, community participation and advocacy to tackle health inequalities.

 

Project Coordinator: Bernard Carter

Bernard Carter brings a wealth of experience with a long and successful career in public sector management, in Local Authorities and the NHS.

Bernard works 14 hours a week for Deep End Cymru, providing invaluable support to the team

 

 

Deep End Cymru is supported by:

  • Project lead: Nicola Edmunds, Head of RCGP Wales and ROI
  • Academic lead: Dr Haroon Ahmed, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Cardiff University