Building on a proud heritage and embracing the future will be crucial to enhancing patient care and professional development, according to the new president of the UK’s leading body representing perioperative practitioners.
Tracy Coates has taken over the presidency of the Association for Perioperative Practice, from Diane Gilmour following the charity’s annual conference. Tracy Coates, who joined the board of trustees in October 2005, has worked at the National Patient Safety Agency as a patient safety lead for anaesthesia, since July 2008, where she has been involved in a series of improvement initiatives. She had previously worked in the perioperative environment, in anaesthetics and recovery for 21 years, undertaking a variety of roles in management, education and finally as a matron in perioperative care. Tracy Coates commented: “Over the years, AfPP has made enormous strides in improving patient care by constantly developing and promoting the leading standards for perioperative practice and practitioners. The future years will be crucial as we build on those achievements, while working within the ever changing healthcare and economic environments.” As a past officer, Diane Gilmour will continue to represent AfPP on the national decontamination agenda and act as an ambassador for AfPP, supporting its aims by providing valuable knowledge, guidance, contacts and ideas to the successive board.
