Cathy Ormiston is the South Staffordshire Clinical Nurse Specialist. Cathy introduces herself and gives us an idea of who she is and where she came from…

Hi, my name is Cathy Ormiston and I am the new HIV Clinical Nurse Specialist for South Staffordshire.

I moved to Staffordshire in August 2001 to take up the post with South Staffordshire Healthcare Trust.

I originally began working life as a general nurse; trained at St. James Hospital in Leeds then later I continued training in Psychiatry. I spent time as a Community Nurse in Bradford working with people with Alcohol and Drug problems.

I initially began developing my knowledge and experience of HIV by volunteering for an organisation called Calderdale and Kirklees HIV / AIDS Link (CKHAL) based in Halifax. I spent seven years with the organisation as HIV Services Co-ordinator during a period of growth when various prevention projects emerged. These included a Mens' Project, a Women's Project and an Ethnic Communities Project.

In my last post, prior to my arrival in South Staffordshire, I returned to the NHS co-ordinating Oldham's' HIV team.
Since August 2001 Pat Wain, who covered HIV Services in East Staffordshire for our Trust, gained a promotion. I then added East Staffordshire to my original area so now travel huge distances. As I cover the same area as Matt Wills, we tend to work closely together, co-ordinating our client input.

I do have an office base at Trentside Clinic in Stone, just off the A34 and can be contacted there on 01785 811471 or may be more easily reached on mobile 07702 839408. There are answer phone facilities on both phones if you wish to leave a message.

Cathy Ormiston