Connecting healthcare workers and championing equality
Based in Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Sheffield
Based in Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Sheffield
#WearPinkforKirsty
It is with great sadness that we write to inform you that Kirsty Gillgrass died on Monday 16th November 2020.
Kirsty was an integral member of Sheffield Women in Medicine and Healthcare (SWiM) and there are no words to describe the sadness that we are feeling. We are certain that the Sheffield healthcare community and beyond is feeling this loss as acutely as we are. Kirsty was a GP partner, a clinical teacher in General Practice at the University of Sheffield, and a CCG director, but most importantly she was mum to Joshua & Oliver, wife to Jon, and friend to many.
Kirsty was a remarkable human being. She was the epitome of what SWiM stands for and embodied our values from the moment she wrote to us in 2014, suggesting that we needed better representation of General Practice in our quest for gender equality in healthcare. She was right, of course. Kirsty joining SWiM and the passion, drive and graft that she brought to our team have been integral in growing our grassroots organisation and its impact in the local healthcare community to where it is today.
Over the last 6 years, Kirsty has been involved in a wide range of SWIM projects. She was instrumental in the development and promotion of a Gender Equality Charter for the NHS, she helped supervise our SWiM Leadership Fellows working on this project, and she supervised medical students working on projects to further our understanding of the problems faced by women at medical school. Kirsty always got things done effectively and did so with a strategic mind, underpinned by a passion for equality and fairness for all.
Kirsty often volunteered to open, chair or coordinate our networking events. She did this, not because she felt confident to do so, but because she fundamentally believed that by being the best role model she could be, in spite her imposter syndrome, she would have the greatest impact on inspiring the next generation of female leaders. We can still hear her saying, “lift as you climb”.
‘And so, lifting as we climb, onward and upward we go, struggling and striving, and hoping that the buds and blossoms of our desires will burst into glorious fruition ere long.’ Mary Church Terrell
Kirsty always had inspirational ideas for keynote speakers and themes for our SWiM networking events, but alongside this she was tirelessly and quietly working to ensure that all GPs in Sheffield received an invitation and engaged with hard-to-reach groups. If Kirsty wasn’t hosting our committee meetings she would certainly be the one providing cake or treats to keep us going, all whist juggling a very demanding day job, leading her boys’ Beavers group, and ensuring her boys always came first in anything and everything that she did.
Kirsty touched and influenced the lives of so many in her short time with us. For today, tomorrow, and beyond Kirsty continues inspire and motivate us to carry on doing good for the world and changing it for the better, one step at a time….
‘Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.’ Harriet Tubman
Kirsty was our dear friend, supporter, mentor and we miss her dearly.
Kirsty’s funeral will take place on Wednesday 9th December at 10.30am at All Saints Church Ecclesall. Whilst attendance is limited to her close family, friends and colleagues we are planning to stand on the road side along the route that the procession will take in order to pay our respects and show Kirsty how much we cared for her. We invite you to do the same if you are able to. For this reason we have shared a map of the route of the funeral procession that will depart from Woodholm road at 10.10am. Kirsty's family have asked that we wear pink, her favourite colour.
Kirsty's husband Jon has asked us to share the following link. A number of people have asked about sending flowers to the funeral and whilst this offer is much appreciated he has asked that instead, people could make a donation via this just giving page.
This will help raise funds for Doctors Support Network. This is a small charity that offers support to doctors struggling with their mental health. A charity that Kirsty would approve of and as always, would want to do something to support any colleague struggling, especially at this very challenging time.
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROSomeoneSpecialPage?pageUrl=KirstyGillgrass
Finally, we invite you to share your personal messages of condolence Via the CCG intranet. If you do wish to add a personal message please do so by emailing Lucy Ettridge whom will add your message. Her email is lucy.ettridge@nhs.net
Take care and best wishes,
The SWiM team
It is with great sadness that we write to inform you that Kirsty Gillgrass died on Monday 16th November 2020.
Kirsty was an integral member of Sheffield Women in Medicine and Healthcare (SWiM) and there are no words to describe the sadness that we are feeling. We are certain that the Sheffield healthcare community and beyond is feeling this loss as acutely as we are. Kirsty was a GP partner, a clinical teacher in General Practice at the University of Sheffield, and a CCG director, but most importantly she was mum to Joshua & Oliver, wife to Jon, and friend to many.
Kirsty was a remarkable human being. She was the epitome of what SWiM stands for and embodied our values from the moment she wrote to us in 2014, suggesting that we needed better representation of General Practice in our quest for gender equality in healthcare. She was right, of course. Kirsty joining SWiM and the passion, drive and graft that she brought to our team have been integral in growing our grassroots organisation and its impact in the local healthcare community to where it is today.
Over the last 6 years, Kirsty has been involved in a wide range of SWIM projects. She was instrumental in the development and promotion of a Gender Equality Charter for the NHS, she helped supervise our SWiM Leadership Fellows working on this project, and she supervised medical students working on projects to further our understanding of the problems faced by women at medical school. Kirsty always got things done effectively and did so with a strategic mind, underpinned by a passion for equality and fairness for all.
Kirsty often volunteered to open, chair or coordinate our networking events. She did this, not because she felt confident to do so, but because she fundamentally believed that by being the best role model she could be, in spite her imposter syndrome, she would have the greatest impact on inspiring the next generation of female leaders. We can still hear her saying, “lift as you climb”.
‘And so, lifting as we climb, onward and upward we go, struggling and striving, and hoping that the buds and blossoms of our desires will burst into glorious fruition ere long.’ Mary Church Terrell
Kirsty always had inspirational ideas for keynote speakers and themes for our SWiM networking events, but alongside this she was tirelessly and quietly working to ensure that all GPs in Sheffield received an invitation and engaged with hard-to-reach groups. If Kirsty wasn’t hosting our committee meetings she would certainly be the one providing cake or treats to keep us going, all whist juggling a very demanding day job, leading her boys’ Beavers group, and ensuring her boys always came first in anything and everything that she did.
Kirsty touched and influenced the lives of so many in her short time with us. For today, tomorrow, and beyond Kirsty continues inspire and motivate us to carry on doing good for the world and changing it for the better, one step at a time….
‘Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.’ Harriet Tubman
Kirsty was our dear friend, supporter, mentor and we miss her dearly.
Kirsty’s funeral will take place on Wednesday 9th December at 10.30am at All Saints Church Ecclesall. Whilst attendance is limited to her close family, friends and colleagues we are planning to stand on the road side along the route that the procession will take in order to pay our respects and show Kirsty how much we cared for her. We invite you to do the same if you are able to. For this reason we have shared a map of the route of the funeral procession that will depart from Woodholm road at 10.10am. Kirsty's family have asked that we wear pink, her favourite colour.
Kirsty's husband Jon has asked us to share the following link. A number of people have asked about sending flowers to the funeral and whilst this offer is much appreciated he has asked that instead, people could make a donation via this just giving page.
This will help raise funds for Doctors Support Network. This is a small charity that offers support to doctors struggling with their mental health. A charity that Kirsty would approve of and as always, would want to do something to support any colleague struggling, especially at this very challenging time.
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROSomeoneSpecialPage?pageUrl=KirstyGillgrass
Finally, we invite you to share your personal messages of condolence Via the CCG intranet. If you do wish to add a personal message please do so by emailing Lucy Ettridge whom will add your message. Her email is lucy.ettridge@nhs.net
Take care and best wishes,
The SWiM team
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