Council members

The South West region has two elected Council members, Lors Allford and TIm Coupland. As the RCN's governing body, Council is responsible for setting the RCN's priorities, objectives and policies.

Lors AllfordLors Allford

Term: 2009 - 2013

Email: lorrae.allford@rcn.org.uk 

Positions held on Council

  • Council Member South West
  • Member of Pension Committee
  • Member of Membership and Representation Committee

Lorrae (Lors) Allford has been a member of the RCN since her nurse training began in 1976. She is currently a Senior Sister/ ENP in emergency care and is also a part time sexual health adviser at the same trust. Her areas of expertise, as well as emergency care and sexual health, include reducing alcohol misuse in young adults. She also has an interest in 24 hour delivery of care and supporting informed patient choice. Lors networks widely with others working in the emergency care setting across the UK.

Lors is an active member of the RCN and is an RCN safety representative and RCN convenor at her hospital. This keeps her in the front line and in close contact with RCN members. She currently represents the Bath Branch on the South West Regional Board which has involved meetings with the Strategic Health Authority to discuss the development of social partnership working and improving staff and management relationships to improve working conditions.

As an activist Lors has developed to face the challenges that the health care system presents all nurses and will use this experience within her role as an RCN council member within the South West.

Tim CouplandTim Coupland

Term: 2011 - 2015

Email:  tim.coupland@rcn.org.uk

Positions held on Council:

  • Council Member South West branch

Previous RCN appointments:

  • Chair of Gloucestershire branch
  • Secretary of Gloucestershire branch
  • Lead Steward 2gether NHS Foundation Trust

Tim has been a registered mental health nurse for 21 years, and an RCN member for 10 years.  He currently works for the 2gether NHS Foundation Trust as a Service Development & Performance Lead, covering the development and monitoring of services for people affected by dementia and older adults with mental health distress and difficulties.

Tim is also responsible for locality governance at the 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, which includes, audit, complaints, quality, oversight of incidents and risk, NICE implementation and research.

Tim is interested in nursing policy and practice and has expertise in organic/ dementia services.  He is also trained in psycho social interventions in the management of psychosis and has undertaken and led on non-medical prescribing initiatives.  Tim has experience in leading on Care Programme Approach (CPA), Governance and Business/Service development, particularly for nursing focused/led services. 
During his time as an RCN member Tim has been a dedicated activist, representing member interests in the workplace as a Steward, and has also held various branch roles.  He is currently Staff Side Chair of his trust’s Joint Negotiating Committee.

Please contact both Council members via the regional office, email: southwestern.region@rcn.org.uk.