ACA Executive
Executive Committee Members
Debbie Yarde - Chair
Senior Specialist Nurse and Team Manager in Bladder & Bowel Care
History with the ACA: I first became an ACA member shortly after taking up my current post in 1997. Since then I have various branch officer’s posts and at various times have been branch treasurer, secretary and organiser. In 2008 I was honoured to be voted on to the Executive board and then to become Honorary Secretary in 2009. I am also one of the founding members of the education group. The ACA an important vessel providing support to all those working in the field of continence and I am confident that the organisation can continue to meet the needs of 21st century practitioners.
Work Role: I work in a Primary Care Trust providing assessment and treatment to any adult with bladder and/or bowel dysfunction. My particular area of interest is men’s health and I am hoping to shortly develop erectile dysfunction services within my workplace. I am a nonmedical independent prescriber and am also heavily involved in teaching including the provision of plenary sessions to 1st year medical students and assisting in the running of a degree level continence course.
Positions held:
- Honorary Secretary 2009-2011
- Chair: May 2011
Elected: May-08
Term Ends: May-11
Re-elected May 2011
Term ends May 2014
Contact Details:
Debbie Yarde
Bladder & Bowel Care Service,
Franklyn House
Franklyn Drive
Exeter EX2 9HS
Tel: 01392 208478
dyarde@nhs.net
Dr Doreen McClurg
Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist/Senior Research Associate - Journal Group
History with the ACA: I was co-opted onto the ACA executive in 2005 and was elected in 2006. Being on the executive has provided me with the opportunity to work with other professionals in the development of care for people with continence issues.
Positions held: Chair ACA 2009-2011
Seconded: Nov-05
Elected: May-06
Re elected:May 09
Term Ends: May 2012
Contact Details:
Tel: 07773984594
Gaye Kyle - Chair Education & Research Officer
Independent lecturer, Honorary Lecturer Thames Valley University,
Recognised Teacher at University of Ulster
History with ACA: I have completed three years as a member of the ACA Executive and was successfully voted on for another three years. My role within the ACA Executive has been to lead the research and education group. During this time we have has seen the development of the ACA and University of Ulster module, which acknowledges excellent specialist continence practice through academic achievement and the development of research proposal to ascertain the effectiveness of continence education of health care professionals. The research is ongoing with the pilot study nearly completed.
My work role: My clinical background is in specialist palliative care, my professional involvement in continence is through education as a senior lecturer and as a specialist nurse practitioner in palliative care. I have undertaken research and published in both these clinical areas. I am now an independent lecturer.
Elected: May-06
Term Ends: May-09
Re elected: May 09
Term ends: May 2012
Contact Details:
Tel: 01235 765810
gayekyle@tiscali.co.uk
Janice Reid - Treasurer
Co-ordinator / Clinical Lead for Continence Services Western Health & Social Care Trust
History with ACA: I have been a member of ACA since 2004 and have held the position of Treasurer with the Northern Ireland Branch since 2005. I was co-opted onto the ACA Executive in May 2009, a position which enabled me to gain a valuable understanding of how the Executive worked and how I might contribute. I was subsequently elected onto the Executive in June 2010.
Work Role: I am responsible for managing continence services in the Western Health & Social Care Trust and lead a team of specialist nurses. My role involves clinical practice, leadership, service planning, research and audit, practice development and education planning and delivery.
Elected: June 2010
Term ends: June 2013
Contact Details:
Continence Advisory Service
Rectory Field Offices
19b Limavady Road
Londonderry BT47 6JU
Tel: 02871 349355
Janice.Reid@westerntrust.hscni.net
Su Foxley - Membership Secretary
Consultant Nurse – Continence Care; Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London
History with ACA: I was invited to become a co-opted member of the ACA Executive Committee in June 2009, and then elected as a full member in June 2010. My co-opted year provided a taster of how the executive committee works to ensure it meets the association member’s needs. My current role within the Executive is as the Membership Secretary.
Work Role: I have worked in the field of continence care for the last 18 years, in both the acute and primary care setting. Having established an integrated continence service within secondary care this ensures users needs are met and provides a seamless onward referral on the patients discharge.
Elected: May 2009
Term ends: May 2012
Contact Details: susan.foxley@nhs.net
Jane Young - Website Editor
Continence Nurse Specialist, Hillingdon Community Health.
History with the ACA: I was elected onto the ACA Executive Committee in June 2010. I represent the North West London Continence Advisors and we are all members of the London Branch.
Work role: I have been a Continence Nurse Specialist for Hillingdon Community Health for 12 months. Myself and my colleague see patients with bladder and bowel dysfunction with the support of 10 District Nursing Teams. Our population is approximately 250,000 and from a wide range of cultures. We work very closely with our Urology and Gynaecology colleagues in the acute trust. I started out as a staff nurse in Urology working my way up to being a Urology Nurse Specialist in the late 90's. I also spent 5 years working with Coloplast in the commercial nursing field. I have a Diploma in Nursing Studies and completed the ENB 978 Promotion of Continence Course in 1996.
Elected: June 2010
Term Ends: June 2013
Contact Details:
The Warren Health Centre
Uxbridge Road
Hayes UB4 0SF
Monday-Friday 8-4pm
Tel: 01895 485100
jane.young5@nhs.net.
Wendy Ness - Honorary Secretary & Chair Bowel Interest Group
Colorectal Nurse Specialist
History with the ACA: I was invited to become a co-opted member of the ACA executive in June 2010 and also became lead of the bowel special interest group taking over from Marlene Powell. These roles will enable me to become more involved with other professionals within the field of continence and raise the profile of bowel care within all healthcare settings.
My work Role: I have been a Colorectal Nurse Specialist at Croydon University Hospital since 1999 and my clinical role involves care of patients with complex pelvic floor disorders and bowel dysfunction. Care pathways for these patients include neuromodulation, electrical stimulation, biofeedback and behavioural interventions. My role also includes running courses on constipation, faecal incontinence and diarrhoea locally and nationally.
Co-opted: 2010
Elected: May 2011
Term ends: May 2014
Contact Details:
Mayday University Hospital
London Road, Thornton Heath,
Croydon,
Surrey. CR7 7YE
Tel: 020 8401 3647
wendy.ness@mayday.nhs.uk
Catherine Williams - Executive Member
History with ACA: I joined the ACA in 1994 whilst working in a continence post on a fixed term contract. I returned to District Nursing for a couple of years and gained a permanent continence post in 1996. I became secretary of SWACA in 2000 and was privileged to be on the conference organising committee of 2001 in Torquay.
I have served previously on the exec from 2002 to 2008, including 2 years as chair. I was elected for a further term in 2011 and look forward to working with the committee in whatever role is needed.
Job title - Clinical & Operational Lead, Bladder & Bowel Service, North Somerset Community Services: I manage a small team of bladder & Bowel Specialist Nurses providing services to adults, children and those in care homes. I have been in post since 1996 although the role, title and employing trust has changed considerably in that time. I am a nurse prescriber, and also sit on our PCT Professional Executive Committee. I am currently studying for an MSc in Specialist Practice.
Positions held: Chair 2005- 2007
Elected: May 2011
Term ends: May 2014
Contact Details: catherine.williams2@nhs.net
Patricia McDermott - Executive Member

History with the ACA
I have been a member of the ACA since taking up my post in 2002. In 2011 I was invited to become a co-opted member of the ACA executive. This opportunity is enabling me to gain a valuable understanding of how the Executive works and valuable work it does.
Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist Urology/Continence. Guernsey Health and Social Services
I am one of two Clinical Nurse Specialists for Urology/ Continence working for the Guernsey Health and Social Services. The Islands population is 68,000. We cover both primary and secondary care as well as managing the urological/continence care needs of the neighboring Islands of Alderney and Herm. My main interest is women's health and I also help and support staff care for patients with complex bowel needs.
Co-opted: 2011
Term ends: May 2012
Contact Details:
Clinical Nurse Specialist continence/ urology
Community Services Department
Castel Hospital
La Neuve Rue
Castel
GY5 7NJ
01481 725241 ext 3420