Meet the ERHH NHS Team

The Exmoor Rural Health Hub (ERHH) is open to all members of the farming community and is staffed by an experienced and friendly team, made up of local Community Staff Nurses, Mandi, Katie, Sian and Chiropodist, Sarah. Let’s meet them...

 

Mandi: NHS Community District Nurse

Hi, I’m Mandi, I am a band 6 registered nurse and have been with the district nursing team for 12 years. I feel very lucky to be part of this team and love my role more each day. I am skilled in many aspects of nursing, both clinical and management, I am also an independent prescriber.

I am originally from the northeast, married with 3 grown up children, so can be very chatty and friendly, you can hear this in my accent! My role within the farming community as the lead nurse for the health HUB has given me the opportunity to not only help clinically but also to get to know the rural area and farmers that use the service.

Alongside nursing I enjoy camping, sewing and science fiction! My passion for nursing has been lifelong, and I qualified later in life after gaining experience that has helped me become the person I am today.

I hope to meet you all at the future clinics, especially when our new building is completed. Watch out for future dates and fund raising, and pop along to me and my colleagues to have your regular checks, or even just a chat; our community needs you to be fit and well.

Mandy: Mental Health

Hello my name is Mandy Gadd

I am a community support worker within the Mental Health Services.

When I left school, I wanted to work in a bakery shop but instead I worked 11 months in Van Heusen’s shirt factory in Taunton. The factory closed May 1981 so I volunteered at Tone Vale Hospital from June - September 1981.

I have worked for the NHS for over 44 years now and I love talking to people and supporting them when things become difficult.

I started off at Tone Vale Hospital in Sept 1981, then moved to a unit in Bridgwater for several years. Now I am based at The Barnfield Unit at Minehead Community Hospital.

My hobbies are cooking, baking - especially making cakes and bread. Also, I enjoy gardening, we have a large allotment where we grown our own vegetables

I have lived in Somerset all my life and on the edge of Exmoor now for over 40 years.I have 2 grown up daughters and an amazing granddaughter.

I was pleased when I was asked to help the Exmoor Rural Health Hub providing support and someone to talk to for members of the farming community who might need support in these difficult times.

I am aware how stressful and lonely farming can be, working long hours on the land with no one to talk to.

Exmoor Rural Health Hub is an informal drop-in clinic where hopefully we will be able to support you during difficult times.

Sian: Clinical Associate Psychologist.

I am Somerset born and raised and have been living on Exmoor for the last six years. My husband and wider family are beef and sheep farmers, so I am well aware of the stresses and pressures farming families face on a daily basis. I have worked in NHS mental health services for many years, and recognise that reaching out for mental health support can sometimes be daunting and impractical, especially for those in the farming community who work long, irregular hours in rural locations. I am therefore delighted to be able to offer support and guidance to the farming & wider community @ the Exmoor Rural Health Hub, at Cutcombe Market, as this drop-in clinic is easily accessed, informal and convenient.

The ERHH team provide a range of services from podiatry clinics to health and wellbeing checks including blood pressure & cholesterol tests and can also offer advice and support for stress and anxiety. No appointment is necessary.  Just call in and speak to one of the team in confidence – each appointment will last approximately 10-15 minutes.

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Sarah: Chiropodist

Sarah has lived on Exmoor her whole life and been working as a Chiropodist for 24 years. Sarah commented “my family are beef and sheep farmers. So it was an easy decision for me when asked to provide a Chiropody service at Cutcombe Market for our local farming community”.

Claire, Heather and Sarah feel strongly that the ERHH service plays a vital role for the farming community and having a presence at the livestock market is a great way to gain trust with farmers.

So, if you haven’t visited the health hub yet, why not pop along the next time you are at market.  Remember it’s free and no appointment is necessary – how often can you say that these days!

Testimonial - Chiropody client:

Mrs W said '' It was my first time visiting the Exmoor Rural Health Hub Chiropodist. I had been suffering with two in-grown toenails causing some discomfort for several months. I contacted Sarah to book an appointment and received excellent care and attention. She made me feel very at ease and I no longer suffer with discomfort. I will be visiting her again without any hesitation.

I highly recommend her to anyone who is in need of foot care.  I feel very fortunate that we have this wonderful service available on Exmoor, being easily accessible at our local livestock market”.

Alysha: Physiotherapist

Hello, my name is Alysha and I am a Band 6 Physiotherapist with the Community Rehabilitation Service in West Somerset.

I was born in Somerset and have lived here my whole life, and as a result, I thoroughly enjoy spending all my time in the countryside!

I qualified as a physiotherapist in 2022 and have since completed work in the acute hospital as well as in the community. I am very much enjoying my time in the community because there is a special privilege to being able to meet people and help them on their journey back to baseline in their own environment. And I am grateful to be able to have this role.

In my free time, I am usually surrounded by dogs! I train and show dogs, both my own and for other people and subsequently understand how active one must be to fulfil the needs of animals, both domestic and on the farm, so I want to use skills learned in my role to help you to be and stay as fit and active as you need to be for your herd or flock!

I look forward to meeting you at the Exmoor Rural Health Hub!

Kaye: Senior Rehab Assistant

Hi everyone!

My name is Kaye, and I am a Senior Rehab Assistant here at the NHS, where I’ve proudly served for the past 13 years.

I truly love working within our community and supporting people on their journey back to health. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than helping patients stay mobile and enabling them to enjoy the things that matter most to them, to the absolute best of their ability.

Community roots run deep for me. As a farmer’s daughter who has personally worked in various forms of agriculture for years, I have a unique understanding of our local farming community. I know firsthand how demanding the lifestyle is, and just how crucial it is for farmers to maintain their strength and mobility to keep doing what they love.

When I’m not at work, I keep busy as a mum to three grown-up children and a proud grandmother to six grandchildren. I love spending time out in our glorious countryside, walking my dog, and catching up with friends and family.

I look forward to meeting and supporting everyone who uses our service!

Check out the “Dates for your diary” section, for details of future clinics.