About us
The BACPR represents all professionals involved in cardiovascular disease prevention and rehabilitation. Promoting Excellence in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation
Aims and Missions
Mission Statement
To support health professionals in the development, delivery and assessment of evidence-based, individualised programmes of prevention and rehabilitation which have been appropriately funded and which are accessed both by individuals with established Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and those with significant CVD risk factors.
BACPR Executive Council
Maria Glover BACPR President 2025-27
Maria is an experienced nurse leader in cardiac rehabilitation with a strong track record of clinical excellence, service development, and strategic leadership. She serves on the BACPR Council, contributing to national strategy and supporting best practice in cardiac rehabilitation. Maria also chairs the Black Country Cardiac Rehabilitation Network (ICB), where she leads regional efforts to improve access, quality, and innovation in cardiovascular care. Passionate about health equity, prevention, and digital transformation, she actively contributes to research, service transformation, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Maria has successfully completed an MBA in Senior Leadership, with her dissertation focusing on digital healthcare in cardiac rehabilitation. Her research highlights the importance of innovation, collaboration, and prevention in shaping sustainable, patient-centred models of care. This academic achievement further strengthens her ability to drive system-level change and influence the future of cardiovascular health and rehabilitation across the UK.
Susan Casnello
BACPR Treasurer 2023-27
Susan has had a passion for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, since 1992. Working since 2000 as a clinical specialist nurse in Salford she has led a BHF funded project to develop a range of options for patients accessing the Salford programme. This aimed to improve access, target hard-to-reach groups and provide a personalised service.
She continues to promote individualised multi-modal service delivery, equitable access, quality improvement, secondary prevention and lifestyle modification. She is service lead for patient experience, NACR, policy, documentation, and digitalisation of the service and is a non-medical prescriber.
As clinical lead for Greater Manchester strategic clinical network she brings to the role experience and a drive to raise the profile of and level up cardiovascular rehabilitation provision for all.
She enjoys walking, cycling and skiing but especially spending time with her family.
Stephanie Wright
BACPR Honorary Secretary 2023-27
Stephanie Wright qualified from the University of Teesside with an Advanced Diploma in Nursing in 2003 and completed a BSc in Adult Nursing in 2010. Her dissertation explored factors affecting attendance at cardiac rehabilitation, sparking a longstanding interest in patient engagement and service improvement.
With over 23 years' experience in cardiology, including 16 years in specialist cardiac rehabilitation and heart failure roles, Steph is currently a Cardiology Clinical Nurse Specialist at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, leading cardiac rehabilitation services across the southern locality. She also spent two years seconded to the NHS England Clinical Network as Cardiac Rehabilitation Delivery Lead for the North East and North Cumbria.
Steph's interests include heart failure rehabilitation, integrated cardiovascular care, and advancing Non-Medical Prescribing within cardiac rehabilitation. She has been a BACPR Council member since 2023 and Honorary Secretary since 2025.
BACPRSecretary@bcs.com
Our Foundations
BACPR is a membership organisation representing and serving the needs of all professionals involved in cardiovascular disease prevention and rehabilitation. As an affiliated group of the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS), the BACPR was first established as the British Association for Cardiac Rehabilitation (BACR) in 1993 as a multi-disciplinary body. To date it continues in this light with its membership consisting of an array of disciplines involved in cardiovascular health, including: nurses, physiotherapists, cardiologists, GPs, dieticians, psychologists, occupational therapists, exercise physiologists and exercise instructors.
BACPR Education coordinates both the well-respected BACPR Specialist Level 4 Exercise Instructor qualification and a range of short Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses for health and exercise professionals involved in cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation all recognised by BCS and Skills Active/Chartered Institution for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA). Delegates receive comprehensive peer reviewed course material and all courses are delivered by specialist professionals from the UK currently involved in the field of cardiovascular rehabilitation.
Dr Eddie Caldow
BACPR Research Lead/Scientific Officer 2025-27
Eddie is currently BACPR Exercise Professionals Group chair, and BACPR's scientific officer. Eddie worked as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist in the NHS for 15 years working in two large Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Prevention programmes. He currently works as a lecturer and researcher in Clinical Exercise Physiology at the University of Salford. Alongside research into exercise rehabilitation, Eddie also supports the long-term Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Programme at the university, a programme that he helped set up back in 2018.
Over the years, Eddie has also been involved in other areas of clinical rehabilitation including peripheral artery disease (PAD), diabetes, pulmonary, cancer, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
Eddie a registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist with both the Academy of Healthcare Science and American College of Sports Medicine.
BACPR Ordinary Officers
Nikki Gardiner 2022-26
Nikki Gardiner is a Clinical Nurse Manager for Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, COPD and the Home Oxygen Service at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. Her clinical background spans across cardiology, coronary care, cardiac surgery and rehabilitation, with over 20 years’ experience in Cardiac Rehabilitation and service leadership. She holds an MSc in Advanced Health and Professional Practice from De Montfort University and is actively involved in research, including NIHR-funded projects.
Nikki has played a key role in developing innovative rehabilitation services, including programmes for South Asian communities, breathlessness rehabilitation and digital rehabilitation, more recently through i-IMPACT platform. Her professional interests centre on service development, quality improvement and reducing health inequalities. She is passionate about improving access to rehabilitation and ensuring patients are offered a menu of evidence-based options that support personalised care and informed choice throughout their rehabilitation journey.
Kirsty Hughes 2022-26
Kirsty is an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist in Heart Failure at NHS Forth Valley. Following completion of an MSc in Advanced Practice, Kirsty transitioned from Cardiac Rehabilitation into her current role within the Heart Failure team, contributing to the development of this traditionally nurse-led area of practice. A key focus of work has been strengthening the relationship between Heart Failure and Cardiac Rehabilitation services, supporting integrated pathways and optimising patient-centred care.
Kirsty’s MSc qualitative service development research has been presented at local and national conferences. She was also a co-author of the article “Multiprofessional Heart Failure Self-Management Framework”, published in Open Heart in 2024, which was subsequently cited in the 2026 European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Guidelines.
Her professional and research interests include shaping service delivery, optimising non-medical prescribing roles and developing advance practice within cardiac rehabilitation and heart failure care.
Janine O'Rourke 2022-26
Janine qualified as a Registered Nurse in 2002 and has since worked in cardiology, on the coronary care unit, as a Heart Failure Specialist Nurse and for the past 10 years as Lead of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Service at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust. She is currently on secondment to NHS England as Cardiac Network Delivery Lead in North East and North Cumbria. Janine is a great advocate for Cardiac Rehabilitation in her ICS, and previously chaired the NENC Cardiac Rehabilitation network group as she understands the importance of services supporting and learning from each other. Over the last two years Janine has completed an apprenticeship in Leadership and Management which she aims to use to ensure that Cardiac Rehabilitation services and workforce remain high on the national agenda.
Natalie Graham 2023-27
Natalie has over 6 years’ experience of working in Cardiac Rehabilitation setting since graduating with a BSc (Sport and Exercise Science) and MSc (Clinical Exercise Physiology) from Liverpool John Moores University. She currently is an Exercise Specialist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and for the past 2 years has also lead a Phase IV Cardiac Rehabilitation programme, Ealing Cardiac Group Fitness. Natalie hopes that having experience in both the NHS and Phase IV setting will help to bridge the gap between the two services.
Natalie’s passion is around service development, and her main goal is to provide truly individualised programme to patients that are specific to their goals and suit their lifestyle. She hopes that the introduction of bespoke services and the use of technology will increase patient uptake and adherence to the Cardiac Rehabilitation programmes.
Marissa Plaza 2024-26
Marissa is a HCPC-registered Physiotherapist with a MSc in Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation from the University of Chester.
Previously, Marissa has worked in clinical practice and academia as leader and lecturer of the Physiotherapy BSc at PUCESE University in Ecuador. Currently, she is investigating the experiences of people with SCAD in cardiac rehabilitation and the perspectives of healthcare professionals about this condition as part of her PhD at Edge Hill University, where she is also a Graduate teaching assistant in the modules of Biological Science and Applying evidence to Clinical Practice at the Faculty of Health, Social care and Medicine.
Her professional and research interests include SCAD, improving access to cardiac rehabilitation, women’s cardiovascular health, physical activity and behaviour change.
Amye Goddard 2024-26
Amye is a Senior Specialist Physiotherapist for Cardiac Rehabilitation, working within the field since 2005. Originally employed to develop Heart Failure Rehabilitation at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, subsequently evolving to include the following initiatives: Digital CR Activate Your Heart now I-IMPACT, Fit for Surgery rehabilitation, Breathlessness and COVID Rehabilitation, also a core team member developing digital platforms for Your COVID Recovery in conjunction with NHSE and National Governing Bodies. Active involvement within research alongside clinical duties facilitated further development around stroke, peripheral vascular disease, heart failure and multiple long term conditions rehabilitation.
This year Amye achieved 26 years’ NHS service, her experience has enabled her to build on clinical and leadership skills, currently part of the Chartered Management Institute programme for Strategic management and leadership for the future of healthcare. She co-manages the Cardiac Rehabilitation Service at UHL.
Julie Hinchliffe 2024-26
Julie graduated with a PGDip in Nutrition and Dietetics at Leeds Met University. She has over 15 years’ experience working in cardiovascular rehabilitation at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust developing the weight management and dietary component of the service to BACPR standards and national guidelines. She is an active member of the BACPR and BACPR diet working group and enjoys being involved with research and audits. She strives to promote the role of the dietitian in cardiovascular rehab and the benefits that our profession can bring to the multi-disciplinary team, patients and their families.
James Whitfield 2024-26
Since completing my BSc degree in Exercise Physiology in 2003 and BACPR exercise instructor the same year, I have worked in community Phase 4/Stage 6 rehab and since 2015 as an Exercise Physiologist in Warrington & Halton Hospitals, Cardiac Rehab Dept, the last 4 years, Full Time as the team manager. Alongside this I work as a freelance tutor on a range of courses. With a Sport and Exercise background especially in rugby.
I bring to the role, experience of delivering Cardiac Rehab from inpatient to community settings and teaching professionals in exercise instruction. I enjoy sharing knowledge, mentoring and educating health professionals in the development, delivery and assessment of evidence-based, individualised programmes of prevention and rehabilitation. Being in a clinical and management position, bring knowledge and understanding from an acute hospital to the role. In my clinical role I tend to get patients referred with high level sport or exercise backgrounds, to help get them back to fitness.
I have been involved in a number of pilots and changes in my career, most recently integrating Liverpool Heart & Chest psychologists into our team for a 12 month NHS England funded pilot.
I am currently on a two year MBA Masters in senior leadership, due to complete in Jan 2027.
Mark Griffiths 2025-27
Dr Mark Griffiths is Lead Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Trust Lead for Psychology Services at Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital. A Consultant Clinical Psychologist since 2006, he has over 25 years' experience in clinical health psychology and neuropsychology, with specialist expertise in cardiovascular disease, cardiac rehabilitation, and stroke rehabilitation.
He leads Psychology services across cardiology (including ACHD, ICC and ICD services), respiratory medicine and critical care, and has extensive experience developing innovative models of psychological care. His regional and national leadership roles include Clinical Lead for the Cheshire & Merseyside Cardiac Rehabilitation Psychology (National Pilot) Project, Psychology Advisor to the NHS England National Stroke Programme, and BPS representative on the Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party, contributing to the National Clinical Guideline for Stroke (2023). He also serves on the BACPR Council and holds national leadership roles within the British Psychological Society.
BACPR Council & Staff
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Sundhya Raman and Derek Connolly - Primary Care Representatives
Lisa Spratt - Northern Ireland Representative
Iorwerth Jones - Wales Representative
Aynsley Cowie - Scotland Representative
Claire Dobson - British Heart Foundation (BHF) Representative
Martyn Bidgood - Cardiovascular Care Partnership UK/ Patient Representative (CCP UK)
Vicky Hatch - Exercise Instructor Network (EIN) Chair
Eddie Caldow - Exercise Professionals Group (EPG) Chair
Prof Patrick Doherty - National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation (NACR) Representative
Becky Hyland - British Society for Heart Failure (BSH) Representative
Dr Sheona McHale - BHF Clinical Research Collaborative (BHF CRC) Representative
Esther Arnold - British Association for Nursing in Cardiovascular Care (BANCC) Representatives
Joanna Abramik - British Junior Cardiologists' Association (BJCA) Representative
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Catherine MacLennan
BCS Affiliate Societies Administrator
bacpr@bcs.comSally Hinton
BACPR Executive Director
shinton@bacpr.comVivienne Stockley
BACPR Education Coordinator
education@bacpr.comPenny Hudson
BACPR Education Administrator
accounts@bacpr.comDr Aynsley Cowie
BACPR Education & Training Lead
ACowie@bacpr.com
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Dr Hugh Bethell (1993-1995)
Helen Stokes (1995-1997)
Dr Jane Flint Bridgewater (1997-1999)
Dr Andrew McLeod (1999-2000)
Ann Ross (2000-2003)
Dr Malcolm Walker (2003 - 2005)
Bernadette Downey, MBE (2005 - 2007)
Prof Patrick Doherty (2007 - 2009)
Prof John Buckley (2009 - 2011)
Dr Jenni Jones (2011 - 2013)
Prof Gill Furze (2013 - 2015)
Dr Joe Mills (2015 - 2017)
Dr Scott Murray (2017 - 2019)
Prof Susan Dawkes (2019 - 2021)
Dr Kathryn Carver (2021 - 2023)
Heather Probert (2023 - 2025)
Annual Report
2025-2026
The annual report provides an overview of the key activities and achievements of the BACPR over the past year, focusing on our mission to promote cardiovascular health and advance the field of cardiac rehabilitation.
Specialist sub-groups
Partner organisations
On this page you will find a list of partnership organisations which are currently working directly with BACPR and a list of useful links which align with the organisation.