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Kernow LMC - Meet the team

Meet the team

The Executive Committee

Dr Hugh Savage

LMC Chair
From early in my medical career I was always headed for General Practice. Was that a deep desire for it? Was it that my dad was a rural GP in Norfolk? Or did I simply not receive a better offer? Either way, there was never any other medical role for me. 
At Med school in Birmingham, I was one of the first foundation trainees as it was implemented by Modernising medical careers. Following this, I worked in Australia with my wife (also a Cornish GP) doing hospital medicine - there’s no denying this felt like a working holiday for two years. 
Back in the UK we set up GP training in the Midlands. But after life by the beach in Australia, the pull of the sea was too strong and we quickly swapped to Cornwall and have never looked back. 
Cornwall has been home for about 15 years. I did my GP training on the Roseland with Dr Will Hynds. This is where my interest in the LMC started, followed by an eye-opening session with Dr Pete Merrin at ST3 training one day. 
After GP training I locumed a while, before settling in The Stennack Surgery initially salaried then becoming a partner and in time a trainer. I was at the Stennack for about 8-10years, including locum work. But in March 2023 I left to enable to me spend more time with my family. I am back working as a locum, enabling great opportunities for holidays with my three children before they are too big and busy with exams. My recent locum work has been very enlightening to understand what makes different practices tick. 
With a change in focus in day-to-day GP work, my LMC work steps up. In the last few years, I’ve seen too many colleagues and friends broken by the day job that I am really motivated to help each and every GP. So here I am in September 2024 stepping into the role of Chair, following in the footsteps of some serious hitters in the recent Cornish past. 
Outside of work I’m a quiet soul, focused on family, making the most of the wonderful Cornish coast where I live. I grew up sailing, and do have a boat, but don’t use it as much as I should. In the last decade I’ve finally worked out how to run and am thoroughly hooked - I like the endurance side of the sport. 
I’m massively interested in the wellbeing side of medicine and fear for how our society is building a lot of lifestyle disease - with this I have a passion for cooking and growing veg (with very limited success). 
Tech and future interventions are also an interest of mine, though I see the importance of living in the now.  

Dr Dave Tinkler

LMC Vice Chair
My whole family are, or were, doctors - including my father, a retired old style rural GP, as well as an anaesthetist. 
I tried to be the ‘black sheep’ and buck the trend. However, I realised I would only be avoiding medicine because my family were medics. 
I applied in the first year of the brand new (and now split) Peninsula Medical School, deferring to start as its second ever cohort, allowing me to travel on the obligatory round the world/working combination. 
Medical training at Peninsula developed my love for medicine and the South West. My wife and I moved to a Cornish mining cottage 17 years ago with our six week old son and here we still are. As the Cornish song goes… ‘this is my Cornwall and this is my home’. 
I worked and enjoyed working with many different teams across RCHT, CFT and a number of GP practices during my training and early GP years. 
I am the epitome of a portfolio GP, initially locuming, now working as a GP partner in Marazion, a salaried GP at Camborne and Redruth Urgent Treatment Centre, as well as the Acute GP Service. I am Deputy Clinical Director for Penwith Primary Care Network and, of course, now Vice Chair of Kernow LMC. 
This portfolio gives a unique understanding across many areas. I believe strongly in the representation of all Cornish GPs working across all areas and in all roles. If there is a problem, then I like to work to find a solution. 
A chance meeting with Dr Will Hynds at a commisioning meeting about gender identity services  sparked my interest in the LMC work and due to my active involvement and attitude here I am now. 
My wife and three children live with our dogs, cats and pet ducks - who try and invade the house if the door is open. I enjoy sport, both with my children, helping with surf lifesaving, as well as hockey for Truro. 
We are in a difficult time in general practice, but I am optimistic that there are things that can and hopefully will improve both locally as well as nationally and I will represent all Cornish GPs doing what I can to help achieve this.  

Dr Sophie Spencer

Executive GP Member
I trained to be a doctor in Edinburgh and moved to Cornwall to do GP training as my husband is a pilot in the Navy and was doing his flying training at Culdrose in Helston. We fell in love with Cornwall and have been here ever since. 
I am a Partner at Three Spires Practice, in Truro, which I love, and have worked there since I finished training. 
I have a special interest in dermatology and work at the Cornwall Skin Clinic. I am interested in women's health and run contraceptive clinics and am safeguarding lead at our practice. 
General Practice is a wonderful profession, but very tough, and I joined the LMC to support and represent local GPs and practices. 
I have three children who keep me very busy and I enjoy gardening, pilates, paddleboarding and being at the beach.  

Dr Ben Ashmore

LMC Treasurer
My dad was a GP, and tried hard to persuade me to avoid Medicine and, in particular, General Practice. He wasn’t successful. I rather admired the role of a traditional rural GP and have followed in his footsteps. 
Deep down he was delighted when I qualified from Bristol in 1997 with a degree in Medicine and a separate degree in Medical Ethics & Law. 
I worked at Treliske for five years – from house officer through to completing my GP training in 2008. Having spent the first decade as a partner on the Lizard Peninsula, I relocated practice to become a partner at Chacewater in 2020 in order to be closer to home.  
Professionally I enjoy training, minor ops, joint injections and IT. Plus, of course, fighting the good fight in the LMC on behalf of General Practice. 
When I bumped into Dr Pete Merrin out at Trellisick my fate was sealed. I took over his place on the LMC and suddenly find myself here. Sort of by accident – never reply to an email from Emma, our CEO, with any interest or she will grab you! 
When my wife and I are not chasing, ferrying or dragging our three boys around, you’ll usually find me renovating our barn, or else enjoying being outside - whether walks by the sea, being in the sea or on it sailing / paddleboarding / fishing. 

LMC CEO

Kernow LMC CEO Emma Ridgewell-Howard

Emma Ridgewell-Howard

Chief Executive Officer
Emma is our full time Chief Exec with responsibility for, and oversight of, all aspect of the LMC’s work.

Emma is a lawyer by training, with more than 20 years’ experience in management, business and HR across a variety of professional sectors.

Latterly, Emma worked as a Practice Manager at a dispensing surgery across the border in Devon, before following her roots back home to Cornwall in her current role.

No two days are ever the same in general practice – the same holds very true for the LMC in supporting and protecting hard-working GPs and their teams across the Duchy. One of the many reasons why Emma loves her job so much.

When not at work, Emma is often (well, sometimes) jogging the local footpaths and lanes, visiting her family or wandering across one of our many beautiful beaches with her two furry dogs. Then bathing them. It’s a full time job!

Business Operations Lead

Millie-Grace Puckey

Business Operations Lead, Kernow LMC

Millie-Grace joined the LMC in 2021 after completing a MSc in Psychology, at the University of Westminster. 

Her role at the LMC is a combination of the day-to-day running of the LMC, including managing the diaries of the executive team and organising meetings, and office administration work.

Outside of work, her main interests include going for walks with her Italian Greyhound, Blu, and seeing friends and family.

Your LMC Committee and allocated practices

Dr Will Hynds

Brannel, Probus, Roseland, Clays

Dr Jonathan Katz

Leatside

Dr Phil Trevail

Harris Memorial; Veor Surgery, Camelford Medical Centre, Churchfield Practice

Dr James McClure

St Austell, Mevagissey

Dr Dave Tinkler

Marazion, Morrab, Atlantic (Cape and Alverton) Rosemellyn and Sunnyside

Dr Bruce Hughes

Old Bridge Looe, Quay Lane, Narrowcliff, Newquay, Helston & IoS, Tamar Valley

Dr Ben Ashmore

Perranporth, St Agnes, Chacewater, Carnon Downs

Dr Sarah Gray

St Erme

Dr Sophie Spencer

Three Spires, Lander

Dr Nick Rogers

Falmouth, Westover, Penryn, Trescobeas

Dr Judit Konya

Carn to Coast, Praze An Beeble

Dr Jonathan Hollow

Stillmoor, Carnewater, Lostwithiel, Middleway, Fowey

Dr Steve Jefferies

Oak Tree, Saltash HC

Dr Sarah Keast

Wadebridge, Port Isaac, Petroc Group, Bottreaux

Dr Victoria Olobia

Locums across Kernow

Dr Francesco Scaglioni

Ruby Country Medical Group, Stratton, Neetside

Dr Hugh Savage (Co-Option)

Stennack, Bodriggy, Meneage Street, Mullion & Constantine, St Keverne

Dr Robert Gardner

Port View, Rosedean, Rame, Launceston

Practice Manager Nicola Davies
Click to expand list of GP practices represented

Practice Manager Helen Sankey
Click to expand list of GP practices represented

Practice Manager Tina Seedhouse
Click to expand list of GP practices represented

Last updated on: 
September 6, 2024
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