Prof. Lizzie Eley
Regional Postgraduate Dean
Prof. Lizzie Eley is the Regional Postgraduate Dean, NHS England, South West. A General Practitioner by background, she has extensive experience leading education, workforce, and quality initiatives across primary care, postgraduate medical education, and clinical leadership at regional and system levels. She has led regional and national initiatives, including establishing the South West’s postgraduate medical and dental equality, diversity and inclusion workstream and leading health equity in GP training, reflecting her wider commitment to inclusive, high-quality postgraduate education and sustainable workforce development. Through collaborative work across organisational and geographical boundaries, she is committed to shaping a sustainable workforce pipeline that supports safe, effective, and equitable care for patients across the region. She is recognised for her commitment to educational quality, her support for doctors in training, and her work with health and academic partners to strengthen the multidisciplinary workforce across the region and was awarded an honorary Clinical Associate Professorship by the University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health.
Prof. Craig Barclay
Regional Postgraduate Dental Dean
Prof. Craig Barclay is the Regional Postgraduate Dental Dean, NHS England, South West. A Restorative dentistry consultant specialising in Head and Neck Cancer rehabilitation by background, he has extensive experience leading education both nationally and regionally. He was awarded an honorary Professorship by Manchester Academic Health Science Centre in Head and Neck Cancer rehabilitation. He previously was the Associate Postgraduate Dean for Specialist Training in the North West and ran national recruitment in Restorative Dentistry as well as being Chair of chairs nationally for the Intercollegiate Speciality Fellowship Examinations in Dentistry. He successfully set up his previous Trust as being a main provider for dental apprenticeships gaining Ofsted approval and is actively developing an upskilling programme for the dental workforce in the South West.
Dr Jane Thurlow
Lead Associate Dean for Faculty Development & Learner Support
I trained in anaesthesia in the South West of England before becoming a Consultant Anaesthetist in Taunton in 2003. I have worked as a general anaesthetist with a specialist interest in Obstetric Anaesthesia. I have had a keen interest in Medical Education for most of my medical career. Having initially been Undergraduate Tutor for Medical students, I then went on to concentrate on Postgraduate Medical Education and became an assigned Educational Supervisor. I then became College Tutor for Anaesthesia before being appointed the hospital’s Director of Postgraduate Medical Education in 2014. From there I was appointed Associate Dean for Education and Faculty Development in Severn Deanery, progressing on to Associate Dean for Professional Education and Development as SW lead, and now Lead Associate Dean for Faculty Development & Learner Support for the South West. As Associate Dean I lead educational and faculty programmes on behalf of the Regional Postgraduate Dean that support local and national developments and initiatives particularly supporting accreditation and continuing professional development of Education and Clinical Supervisors, Senior Faculty Development and educational programmes for Resident Doctors across the South West. Other parts of my portfolio include study leave.
Dr Stephen Harris
Deputy Postgraduate Dean (Secondary Care)
Having started postgraduate life in the West Midlands, I found the M5 and moved to the South West where I have been a Consultant in Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine since 2007, based in Somerset. I have been involved in PG Medical Education throughout, holding roles such as Faculty Tutor for ICM, F2 Programme Director, Educational Strategy Lead for Severn Foundation School, Associate DME for Quality, Supported Return to Training Champion and more recently Director of Medical Education for the unified Trust in Somerset. I have been in the Deputy Dean role since Feb 2026, providing support to the Schools of Medicine, Ophthalmology, Radiology, Pathology and Paediatrics, as well as the Integrated Academic Program. In my spare time I enjoy as much cricket & football as my knees will take and exploring the beautiful South West with my family.
Dr Clare van Hamel
Deputy Postgraduate Dean (Foundation)
Clare is an anaesthetic consultant and Deputy Postgraduate Dean for Foundation in Southwest England. Clare has been interested in preparedness to practice of FY1s for a number of years and has published in this area.
Nick Haddington
Pharmacy Dean
Nick is Pharmacy Dean for NHS England South West, responsible for education and training of the pharmacy workforce, including the Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal College of Pharmacy and is annotated as an Independent Prescriber. He additionally holds the positions of Lead Visitor with the Health and Care Professions Council and the role of External Examiner for a UK independent prescribing course. With previous roles as Director of Taught Postgraduate Programmes at a UK university, and as an active prescriber in the NHS, he has a particular interest in education reform and workforce transformation, with a focus on prescribing training.
Dr Holly Hardy
Primary Care Dean
Holly is a GP with over 30 years’ clinical experience, most recently in Bristol and previously in the North West. She has been a senior medical educator in the South West for many years, holding leadership roles as Associate Dean for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) GP Training Programme and as Clinical Lead for the BNSSG Primary Care Training Hub. Holly is delighted to have taken up the role of South West Primary Care Dean, where she leads the School of Primary Care in delivering high‑quality, inclusive training for future GPs and in shaping a sustainable, skilled primary care workforce to meet the needs of the region’s diverse population.
Dr Helen Waters, MA Hons(Cantab), MB BS, FRCP
Secondary Care Deputy Postgraduate Dean
Helen graduated from Cambridge University and St. Mary’s Hospital, London. She has since worked in the NHS for 30 years, initially in geriatric medicine and then in acute medicine. She has been based in the South West for over 20 years working as a consultant in Torbay Hospital. Supporting and supervising residents has been part of her job since her time as a medical registrar. She has held the roles of Foundation Programme Director, Director of Medical Education, Head of School of Medicine and Associate Dean for Quality, before taking up her current post as Deputy Postgraduate Dean for secondary care. Helen is proud to work in the South West which has a reputation for high quality training and a strong resident voice. She is working on the expansion of posts in our region, aiming to meet our population needs and provide career choices that support residents in jobs in the South West.