RCEM Blog – 3 June 2025
RCEM’s Advanced Clinical Practitioner forum has welcomed two new co-chairs, following the end of Ashleigh Lowther’s term as ACP Chair.
Amy Cawthorne (middle in above picture) and Johnathan George (right) will represent ACP’s and share the role of Chair as a joint leadership team.
The official handover took at the ACP Conference in Leeds.
Both Amy and Johnathan have pre-existing roles within the ACP forum as regional EM-ACP representatives, with Amy representing Yorkshire and Humber and Johnathan representing Wales.
We asked Amy and Jon to share some thoughts on their new roles as forum co-chairs.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to pursue a career as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner?
Amy Cawthorne: I became a qualified ED nurse in 2008 and was among the first trainee ACPs in my department in 2013, achieving RCEM credentialing in 2016. My motivation for pursuing advanced practice stemmed from a desire to remain in a patient-facing clinical role while expanding my expertise.
I now hold the position of Senior and Lead ACP for the Adult Emergency Departments at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. I have been a member of the RCEM ACP credentialing panel since 2019, and before my role as co-chair, I was ACP representative on the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Board and represented ACPs for the North of England.
Johnathan George: I came to the UK in 2001 and have worked various roles in ED’s for 22 years. I started my MSc in 2014 and became RCEM credentialed in 2024. Being an ACP has allowed me to develop my clinical and non-clinical skills while working closely with patients and members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT). I have recently been appointed as the Lead ACP in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital Emergency Department. In the last forum I was the Wales National ACP rep, I worked closely with organisations in Wales to support the development of ACPs.
What inspired you to take on the role of ACP Forum Co-Chair?
Amy Cawthorne: Being involved in the ACP forum since its inception has been a privilege, and I feel that with my existing knowledge of the College now is the right time to push forward and help the ACP workforce continue to be heard as a profession.
Johnathan George: I thoroughly enjoyed my role as Wales National rep and was keen to take the learning from that role and try to be a voice for ACPs across the UK. I’m a keen ACP advocate and would like to work closely to enhance the relationships with the devolved nations.
What are your primary goals for the ACP Forum during your tenure?
Amy Cawthorne: Working alongside Jon, my primary goal is to ensure every EM-ACP across the UK feels heard, valued, and empowered within the multidisciplinary workforce. I want to actively listen to ACP members’ experiences, advocate for their professional development and continue to develop robust governance, championing our contributions at every level. By directly engaging with ACPs from across the country, we can include their views in policy change and showcase their value to the ED workforce.
Johnathan George: I intend to work closely with Amy and the new forum, and we are currently working on a plan for the next forum and how that will work. We want to be strong voices for the ACPs across the UK and are here to listen to our members’ issues and try to advocate to improve things for all ACPs.
What message would you like to share with your fellow ACPs and the wider RCEM community?
Johnathan George: As RCEM ACP co-chair I hope to be a voice for all EM ACPs. We must continue to push boundaries and ensure that our roles are not only recognised but also supported to reach their full potential.
How do you envision supporting ACPs across the UK in your new role?
We want to engage with the ACP workforce. We need them to tell us what they want for the next forum, and we will use that to guide our three-year plan. The forum is for all ACPs, there is so much valuable experience that the workforce must bring to the table. We are here for all ACPs, please get in touch at ACPchair@rcem.ac.uk with anything that we can support with or fill out the following form.
