Meet the Team

Dr Boyd qualified in medicine at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and trained in haematology in Belfast, Leeds and Milan. Dr Boyd was appointed Consultant Haematologist in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in 1998. As lead consultant she developed multidisciplinary teams to provide clinical haematology and anticoagulant services. She has been a core member of the myeloma, lymphoma and leukaemia MDTs and was principle investigator for lymphoma trials. She was Clinical director of laboratory services, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, from 2015 to 2019. Throughout this period she was an active member of the NI Pathology Network and NICaN.

Since June 2019 Dr Boyd has been working part time, with clinical sessions in the Southern and Belfast Trust haematology departments.

Naomi is the Network Manager, with a focus on the strategic and operational management of the managed clinical network.  She is a member of the SPPG (DoH)/PHA Cancer Commissioning Team.  Naomi oversees all Network Programmes/Projects and has line management responsibility for all Network Team members

Email: naomi.mccay@hscni.net

Lorna Nevin was appointed PHA Nurse Consultant for Cancer and re-joins the NICaN team for the second time in her career. Between 2005 – 2011 Lorna was the NICaN Supportive and Palliative Care Coordinator and was integral in shaping and informing regional and strategic planning, policy and service improvement to promote the equitable provision of high quality, patient focused supportive and palliative care services.

Lorna has worked clinically within Haematology and has a Post grad Specialist practice qualification within Cancer. Her career has provided a wide range of experience, from acute and community nursing perspective, as a specialist palliative care nurse and in management.  Lorna has also worked regionally as a Macmillan Partnership Manager supporting the development of a wide range of service improvement initiatives, service posts and projects.

Lorna is delighted to be back as part of the NICaN team and is part of the Cancer Commissioning Team , the NICaN Nurse Leaders Reference Group  and connecting across the Clinical Nurse Specialist Forums.

Email: Lorna.Nevin@hscni.net

Grace joined NICaN in April 2023, and will provide regional leadership for several programmes of work aligned to the delivery of the NI Cancer Strategy.  The role will involve collaborating with cancer management teams, service improvement leads and multi-disciplinary teams, and establish strategic partnerships with acute care, primary care, third sector organisations and people living with cancer.

Grace will oversee the establishment of pathways to ensure people living with cancer in NI will have an opportunity to engage in prehabilitation, undertake a holistic needs assessment and receive a personalised care plan, from diagnosis and the continuum of their cancer journey.

Email: grace.heatley@hscni.net

Nicola joined NICaN in October 2022. She is responsible for the coordination and business support of the Colorectal and Haematology Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs). Nicola works with the CRGs to develop, agree and monitor implementation of work programmes. This work is aligned to recognised best practice guidelines, HSC strategic priorities and plans for service improvement and development across the patient pathway.

Nicola came from the NI Pathology Network where she supported the Cellular Pathology and Microbiology & Virology Speciality Fora and project managed the development of NI Biomedical Scientist advanced practice in tissue dissection. Prior to that Nicola held project manager posts in the Royal College of Physicians’ health informatics unit, where she developed national standards for healthcare records, and the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Clinical Innovation and Research Centre, where she redeveloped and expanded the national accreditation programme for practices undertaking NIHR research, called ‘Research Ready’.

Email: Nicola.quinn4@hscni.net

Jenny joined the team in December 2018 and is responsible for all administration activities relating to the NICaN network team

email:nican.office@hscni.net