South Eastern Trust Respiratory Strategic Lead, Gail McKeown has described her appointment as Respiratory Champion for Northern Ireland with Asthma + Lung UK as a “privilege”, providing an opportunity to share learning and support respiratory care improvements across Northern Ireland.
Gail, who began her professional career as a Physiotherapist, became the Trust’s Respiratory Strategic Lead in 2022. Since then, she has played a key role in driving service development and improvement across Respiratory Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Physiology working across both primary and secondary care.
Her new role will provide an opportunity to build on this experience and share the learning and developments taking place within the South Eastern Trust with respiratory colleagues and Primary Care Teams across Northern Ireland.
Reflecting on her appointment, Gail said, “When the opportunity arose to become the Respiratory Champion for Northern Ireland, I felt that my role within the Trust really lent itself to it.
“I am delighted to have been successful and to have the opportunity to take some of the work we have developed within the South Eastern Trust and share it Regionally. We have made some really positive developments here and I am passionate about helping to spread that learning and support improvements in respiratory care across Northern Ireland.”
Gail added, “This role gives me protected time to do something I have wanted to do for a long time, to get out and spread the word on the new asthma guidelines with Trusts and Primary Care Teams that I have not previously had the opportunity to influence.
“I am equally passionate about COPD optimisation and reducing cardiopulmonary risk for people living with respiratory conditions. I am also looking forward to supporting the implementation of the new NICE guidance on COPD biologics and helping to address some of the gaps in respiratory care.
“It is a real privilege to take on this role and I am excited about the opportunity to work with colleagues across Northern Ireland to improve outcomes for people living with respiratory conditions.”