Vascular Access Clinical Educators

Learn more about our team below -

 

Louise Freeney 

Lead Clinical Nurse Educator for Vascular Access

Louise's role as a Clinical Nurse Educator is to offer support to the Sales Consultants who manage the UK territories. Providing them with clinical knowledge, evidence-based practice, research and information on the most up to date innovations for vascular access.

Having previously led a vascular access team within the NHS and provided the insertion, care, maintenance, and removal of a wide range of devices including Midlines, PICCs, Skin-Tunnelled Catheters and Implantable Ports.

Louise also has the diversity of being in a Business Development role which offers its challenges but is also exciting. Louise continuously updates her knowledge and skills by attending national, global conferences and courses that are relevant to her roles. These Exhibitions include NIVAS, AVA, INS, WoCoVA, UKONS, IPS and MEDICA.

Having successfully completed an MSc in Leadership Development (Leadership & Management) at Edge Hill University Louise will be able to promote a values-driven, authentic approach to leadership, develop effective change and service quality improvement within health and social care settings.

 

Colin Fairhurst

Clinical Nurse Educator for Vascular Access

Upon qualifying as a Registered Nurse, Colin served in the Royal Air Force for 8.5 years undertaking many roles including aeromedical evacuation and emergency and critical care roles embedded within the NHS. Upon leaving the military Colin worked predominantly within Critical Care Outreach teams and developed the skill of using ultrasound for obtaining venous access.

Finding a passion for this skill led Colin to subsequently specialise in Vascular Access, running and developing the service at University Hospitals Plymouth for many years. This service provided the insertion, care, maintenance, and removal of a wide range of devices including Midline, PICC, Skin-Tunnelled Catheter, Implanted Ports and Apheresis devices.

In this time Colin gained a MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice focussing on Vascular Access, Leadership and Service Development, became a member of the National Infusion and Vascular Access Society (NIVAS) board and presented at numerous national conferences and events.

Now a clinical educator for pfmmedical UK, Colin shares his knowledge and experience with others within the speciality whilst maintaining his clinical ability still working as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in several NHS trusts nationwide. 

 

Nicola York

Clinical Nurse Educator for Vascular Access

Nicola is passionate about vascular access, she has many years of experience of working within this field of nursing. Nicola’s current role involves being a confident and highly experienced practitioner in the training and development of vascular access teams to achieve the high standards required for this specialist field of healthcare.

Nicola has key skills in leadership, communication, collaboration and problem solving. She provides support and advice for the sales consultants. In a previous role Nicola was responsible for the clinical and operational management of a nurse led vascular access team.

She has provided expert consultation, advice and presentations with regards to vascular access and IV therapy locally, nationally and internationally. Nicola has been a board member of the National Infusion and Vascular Access Society (NIVAS) which involved assisting in the organisation of conferences and study days etc. NIVAS is the independent and multi-professional society specialising in vascular access and infusion therapies.

Nicola’s greatest achievement is that she has written and published multiple articles in the British Journal of Nursing on subjects including ‘The importance of ideal central venous access device tip position’ and ‘Choosing an intravenous dressing.

In 2023 Nicola was awarded the Vascular Access Nurse of the year by the British Journal of nursing.

 

For more information contact us at uk@pfmmedical.com