MEET THE TEAM🌞
Olivia joined Connect in 2021, bringing with her 15 years of experience within the NHS, where she worked as a student midwife, reception manager, and practice manager. She is trained in customer service, counselling skills, safeguarding, and Makaton, and plays an active role across the organisation as a member of the Charity and Social Committee, Clinical Governance Committee, and the Patient Steering Group, where she also serves as Secretary. Olivia says her favourite part of the job is knowing that every day is different, working within a supportive team that genuinely cares about both patients and each other, while continually looking for ways to improve the service and keep the workplace enjoyable. An interesting fact about Olivia is that when she turned 40, she committed to trying everything once — since then she has skydived, completed the Great North Run, taken up paddleboarding, and even bought a Great Dane.
Julie has been part of the team since February 2016, bringing with her previous experience as a buyer and stock controller within a healthcare company. She says the most rewarding part of her role is the team’s dedication to delivering the highest standard of friendly, compassionate care to ostomy patients. Julie values working in a small, close‑knit team that supports both patients and one another. Outside of work, she has a passion for decorating and home renovations.
Tammy joined the team in January 2020 and brings a strong clinical background with previous experience as a long‑term conditions lead and nurse manager in a busy GP practice, as well as experience in head and neck units and general surgery. She says the best part of her role is being able to genuinely make a difference to people’s lives, whether clinically by reducing leaks and improving sore skin, or through supportive conversations that give patients the confidence to do things like travel by plane. Within the office, Tammy values the supportive team she works with, noting that everyone truly cares about both the patients and each other, with plenty of laughs along the way. An interesting fact about Tammy is that she has two cats, brothers named AC and DC, inspired by one of her husband’s favourite bands.
Sienna joined the team in May 2025, having previously worked as a customer care assistant. She says the best part of her role is the feeling that her work directly contributes to helping people. An interesting fact about Sienna is her strong interest in football — she once wrote a 5,000‑word dissertation on why ACL injuries occur more frequently in women’s football, which also included a presentation summarising her findings.
Louise joined the team in February 2021 and brings previous nursing experience from working in gynaecology for a year, followed by a role as a healthcare assistant in private healthcare. She says the best part of her job is helping people achieve a better quality of life. An interesting fact about Louise is that she was born on the 10th of the 10th at 10 minutes past 10.
Ellie joined the team in July 2024, having previously worked as a call handler at a large GP practice supporting a patient base of around 50,000. She says the best part of her role is working closely with the nurses to gain knowledge about ostomates’ lives and the impact this has on them. An interesting fact about Ellie is that she has three A‑Levels in Criminology, Sociology and Psychology, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology. Whilst at University, also got a Cockapoo named Olive.
Caitrin joined the team in October 2025 and brings a strong nursing background, having qualified in 2016 and worked on a busy surgical ward. In 2019, she began a 12‑month temporary stoma care role with Hollister, which became permanent in 2020. She went on to work across acute and community settings in East Berkshire before moving to the Fittleworth sponsorship in the Sheffield community in December 2021. Caitrin says the best part of her job is seeing patients thrive and regain confidence with their stoma. An interesting fact about her is that she loves a good sing‑song in the car between home visits.
Helen joined the team in May 2017, having started her career in healthcare with Atos. She says the best part of her role is speaking with patients, sorting out any problems or queries they may have, and seeing those issues successfully resolved. An interesting fact about Helen is that she lived in Southampton and Portsmouth for 20 years before moving back to Nottingham, where her roots are.
Beverley joined the team in 2021 and brings with her 16 years of experience working in a GP practice as a Healthcare Assistant. Her role included a wide range of clinical duties such as ECGs, blood tests, immunisations, diabetic foot checks, annual reviews, and new patient medicals, among others. Beverley says the best part of her job is helping ostomates feel better about themselves and their stomas, offering support where she can or guiding them to the right people when needed. She particularly enjoys visiting patients in their own homes — especially when there are dogs to meet. An interesting fact about Beverley is that she loves to travel and is a big dog lover.
Karen joined Connect almost three years ago and brings a wealth of experience from a long and varied nursing career. She began working as a support worker in the community and the NHS before qualifying as an Enrolled Nurse in 1986, later converting to a Registered Nurse. Karen worked across multiple surgical specialties, progressing from Staff Nurse to Ward Sister on a colorectal ward, where she cared for many patients undergoing stoma formation. She later worked in hospital‑based stoma care before moving into the community, where she has now supported patients for almost 20 years. Karen says the best part of her job is being able to resolve issues for people who feel they have tried everything, and receiving positive feedback from patients and their families, which reinforces the impact of her work. An interesting fact about Karen is that she loves travelling and experiencing different cultures, enjoys growing her own vegetables, and values long walks with her husband in the nearby countryside.
Lynne has been an integral part of Connect since 2016, initially supporting the service set-up before joining the team permanently in 2018. With a strong nursing background in surgical and colorectal care, she became a Stoma Care Sister within a hospital setting in 2003. Since 2007, Lynne has worked as a Community Stoma Care Specialist Nurse, running clinics and providing care to patients in their own homes. She is now also a Nurse Prescriber within Connect, further enhancing her ability to support patients. Lynne is passionate about using her specialist knowledge to deliver personalised, compassionate care to patients and their families. An interesting fact about Lynne is that she spent a year living and nursing in Australia across a variety of specialties—and even experienced camping in the outback.