About Me
“For the last 30 years, my background has been in
anatomy and physiology.
I am passionate that, with the right support, patients can go on to lead more pain-free, fulfilling lives”.
- Jill
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Knowledge
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Understanding
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Empowering
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Knowledge
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Understanding
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Empowering
〰️ Knowledge 〰️ Understanding 〰️ Empowering 〰️ Knowledge 〰️ Understanding 〰️ Empowering
Background
30 years ago whilst living in Cheshire, I set up my Health and Fitness business with the support of the PYBT (England) combining my work as a Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer and Sports Massage Therapist.
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I have taught the under 5’s, the over 80’s and those who ‘suffer’ from fitness-phobia.
At 27, I was listed in Harpers & Queen’s ‘A List’ of Personal Trainers and at 29, appeared in The Independent for an article on Personal Training.
I have written for numerous publications and appeared on radio and TV in my capacity as a Fitness Instructor.
As a child I took gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics (I was 2nd in Scotland in the under 16’s!) athletics, ballet, swimming and highland dancing and, as a young adult I was a full-time dancer.
Clinical Massage Work
Since 2003, I have specialised in treating people with chronic pain. In this type of work, a significant amount of time is spent helping the patient to understand their issue and how to how to manage it.
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Successful treatment includes;
taking full and detailed medical histories
supporting and treating the patient’s overall health and well-being
assisting many of these patients to advocate for themselves within the healthcare system
Cardiac Campaigning
I had 2 heart attacks caused by SCAD in 2021 and was also diagnosed with perimenopausal microvascular angina in 2024 but, “you have a “beautiful, clear, healthy heart”, - ‘Mr. Angiogram’
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SCAD means Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, when the wall of an artery suddenly tears or bruises, preventing blood flow.
Approx. 90% of SCAD patients are female.“Women having a heart attack are 50% more likely than men to recieve a misdiagnosis”. This sobering statistic is why I am now a passionate patient advocate for female heart health.
Having to (seriously) advocate for myself in regards to my heart health, plus for a separate gastrointestinal issue around 10-12 years ago, I fully appreciate how challenging it can be to navigate the healthcare system - especially when we are very unwell.
Challenging not only for the patient, but for the healthcare professional too.
Changes in attitudes and behaviours from both the patient and the medical profession are going to become ever more important, if we want the NHS to survive.
Cardiac Work
Over the last few years, I have been passionately increasing awareness of female heart health, the effect that the perimenopause and menopause can have on our hearts and highlighting the existence of the medical gender divide - which is sadly, very prevalent within cardiology departments.
Prof. Nick Mills - BHF Chair of Cardiology, Cardiologist at The Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
Prof. Lis Neubeck - Head of the Centre for Cardiovascular Health, Napiers University, Edinburgh
I am a patient advocate member of:
SCAD in Scotland Steering Group
SCAD Recovery research Steering Group
Digital Heart Health Study
All led by Prof. Lis Neubeck - Head of the Centre for Cardiovascular Health, Napiers University Edinburgh.
Thanks to Prof. Neubeck, funding was secured to run a designated SCAD clinic in Scotland, a fantastic achievement for all Scottish SCAD patients.Lived Experience Heart Disease Network run by Alliance Scotland - The Alliance are a strategic partner of the Scottish Government, and their purpose is to improve the wellbeing of people and communities across Scotland.
I have also been interviewed on the podcasts of Dr. Louise Newson and the Womenkind Collective.
To see all media appearances have a look at my Media Page (coming soon!)
February 2023
Presenting my cardiac experiences for the Scottish Govt. Cross-Party Group
June 2023
Being interviewed for STV News (Edinburgh)
July 2023
Speaking live on BBC Radio Scotland
June 2023
Attending British Heart Foundation reception at the Scottish Parliament
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
Qualifications
Continual training is vital, as scientific research constantly pushes the boundaries of our knowledge, making us question the tried and tested ways of the past.
My initial anatomy and physiology training was a long time ago and listing all my qualifications would take up too much space. Suffice it to say that, I have trained in every type of fitness class there was at the time and all ages from Kids’ Fitness to movement classes for aging populations.
Below is a list of my main qualifications:
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1990 - Exercise studies
1993 - Personal Training
1998 - Body Massage
1998 - Sports Therapy & Rehab
2006 - Craniosacral Therapy 1
2007 Craniosacral Therapy 2
2014 - Advanced Clinical Massage Therapy
2017 - Dry Needling
2018 - Medical Acupuncture
Continuing Professional Credit Training
The College of Body Science - run by Caroline Barrow, this school is a must for anyone interested in A&P.
Inside The Cranium - 2 days, 12 hours - 2013 (in person)
A Day in the Dissection Lab - 1 day, 6 hours - 2016 (In person, King’s College, London)
The Endocrine System - 4 days, 24 hours - 2023 (online)
Newson Health Menopause Society - increasing my knowledge in the treatment of perimenopausal and menopausal women*
Migraines and the Menopause - 2 hours - 2022 (online)
Progesterone Intolerance - 2 hours - 2022 (online)
*NB. This CPD training is done in my capacity as a non-prescribing healthcare practitioner, therefore I am unable to advise you in regards your medication.
But, learning about prescribing helps me to guide my patient on how to advocate for themself with their prescribing practitioner.
I am on the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Register - The independent UK regulator for complementary healthcare practitioners, set up with government support to protect the public by providing a UK voluntary register of health practitioners. The register has been approved as an Accredited Register by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, a body accountable to Parliament.
I am fully insured in the practise of;
Sports Massage
Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation
Exercise Instructor
Craniosacral Therapy
Dry Needling
Medical Acupuncture
