Meet the Team

Quote / Testimonial:

Your GP practice is open and here for you and your family.

In order to provide the right care at the right time, all GP practices are changing how they work. In a GP practice you will now find a wider team of specialists and professionals working together to help and care for you. The larger practice team is designed to best manage the very busy workload and the range of health needs that people have. You may get referred to the most appropriate member of the team to provide the support you need.

Our Clinical Team – a guide to new roles within our team

At Elm House Surgery, there has always been an ethos of learning and development for our staff. We have continued to achieve this over the years by welcoming GP trainees into the practice for their vocational training as well as employing staff across the Primary Care spectrum called Allied Health Professionals.

As part of the NHS Long-Term Plan, there has been a drive to increase the number of Allied Health Professionals within Primary Care. This is due to the ever-increasing demands on GPs and the need to ensure the right workforce, with the right skills, is in the right place to deliver high-quality care. As a patient, you may get seen by any one of these Allied Health Professionals when you have an appointment. We understand that some of the titles may be confusing.

So we have outlined the different Allied health professionals we employ at Elm House Surgery and their roles within the practice:

Our Clinical Pharmacists play a crucial role in medication management. They work closely with our doctors to optimise drug therapy, prevent medication-related issues, and educate patients about their medications. This collaboration ensures safe and effective treatment plans.

Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) are experienced nurses with specialised training, allowing them to diagnose and treat a variety of health conditions. They provide high-quality primary care, perform physical exams, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and prescribe medications, all while emphasising a holistic and patient[1]focused approach.

Physician Associates (PAs) are highly skilled healthcare professionals who work independently, and can diagnose, investigate and provide treatment plans for patients. They can approach our GPs for advice if required. Prescribing is not within their scope of practice. As such, any prescriptions will be signed off by a Clinical Pharmacist or a GP. PAs are integral members of our team, ensuring timely and efficient patient care.

First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) are qualified autonomous clinical practitioners who can assess, diagnose, investigate, treat and discharge a patient with any musculoskeletal complaint without a medical referral – where appropriate. They can also refer onwards for further intervention to the specialised Musculoskeletal Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service (MCATS) or to the Orthopaedic Team.

Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) are experienced professionals who can support patients with either a diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health concern. This could be one or a number of mental health symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, loneliness, grief, hallucinations or stress.

As a training practice, our GP Trainees work as part of the clinical team. A GP Trainee is a qualified doctor who already has hospital experience and who is now undertaking specialty training for General Practice. Whilst they are with us, they are always working under the supervision of a fully trained GP. They will usually see you by themselves but will seek further advice from the supervising GP where needed.

Doctors

Dr Christopher Holdridge (m)

GP Partner

I qualified in medicine from King’s College London 2010. I Achieved MRCGP 2015. The summer of 2015. I joined Elm/Cator Practice, right after completing GP training. My main areas of interest are joint and soft tissue injections and minor surgery. I am involved in running minor surgery clinics, steroid injections in normal clinic appointments, responsibility for the Patient Participation Group and Information Governance. Prior to studying medicine I gained a degree in English Literature from Durham University and worked briefly in the media.

Dr Thuwaraga Logeswaran (f)

GP Partner

MBBS BSC MRCGP DCH ( Diploma in Child Health), MRCS ( Membership of the royal college of surgeons), DFSRH, Merit Course

I qualified at UCL in 2009. I joined Elm House Surgery in July 2018 and Cator Medical Centre in May 2017. My main area of interest is Diabetes (Diabetic Clinics for Cator Patients only).

Dr Sivaja Sithamparapillai (f)

Salaried GP and GP Trainer

I qualified as a doctor in 1997 from Guy’s and St Thomas, London and qualified as a GP in 2002.

I Joined Cator Medical Centre in April 2015. My area of interests are Gynaecology and Family Planning.

I am a GP Trainer since May 2017. I also offer coil and implant clinics as well as baby/ postnatal appointments.

Dr Deepali Patel (f)

Salaried GP

I qualified from the University of Birmingham in 2013 and joined Cator Medical Centre in August 2018 for my GP Registrar year.

Dr Namita Panicker (f)

Salaried GP

I completed my medical degree in India in 2012, following which I worked in A&E for a while.  After moving to the UK I worked as a junior doctor in General, Breast and Colorectal Surgery at the Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust before taking a year out to teach undergraduate medical students at Imperial College, London.  After developing an interest in Primary Care, I joined the GPVTS scheme at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (West Kent) in 2018.  I qualified as a GP in August 2021 and joined Cator Medical centre soon after.

My special interests include Women’s Health and Medical Education.

Dr Gemma Ball (f)

Salaried GP

I qualified from University College London in 2011 and completed my GP training at Guys & St Thomas’ Hospital, including rotations in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Adult Medicine and Surgery, Mental Health and A&E.

After achieving MRCGP in 2017, I worked as a GP in Lambeth before joining Cator Medical Centre in 2022.

Dr Ben Grange

Salaried GP

Nursing Team

Our Nurses

Claire Berry (f)

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

I qualified with a Diploma in Adult Nursing at Brighton University in 2005. From qualifying I worked at Epsom and St Helier Hospital, where I gained as BSc (Hons) Degree in Health Care Practice in 2012, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Practice (Adult) at London South Bank University in 2020.

I began my nursing career in the Emergency Department, progressing from there to become a Clinical Site Manager and then a Matron, before changing my career path and completing my training to become an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) and an independent non-medical prescriber in 2019.

I completed my Masters in Advanced Practice in January 2021. I worked in  Acute Medicine and alongside the Emergency Department throughout my ANP training, seeing and treating patients with lots of different conditions.

Since starting at Cator Medical Centre, I have completed a course in managing common and acute conditions in children, as well as a course in spotting the sick child. This enables me to see both adults and children.

I enjoy doing CrossFit, spending time with my friends and family and ready when I get time.

Julian Luck (m)

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Info being updated

Zoe Leroy (f)

Practice Lead Nurse

I qualified in 2012 with a Post Graduate Diploma in Nursing from King’s College London and went straight to work on a busy surgical ward looking after Colorectal and Urology patients at King’s Denmark Hill.

I’ve worked at Elm House and Cator Medical Centre since 2021 and love to support patients with chronic respiratory conditions and diabetes.

I took on the role of Lead Nurse at the practices as well as becoming Nurse Facilitator for the PCN where I support Nursing education and development.

I am passionate about quality improvement and nurturing the workforce with mentoring, preceptorship, education and supervision. 

In my spare time you will find me enjoying the outdoors with my two young children and making use of my Graphic Design degree at my partner’s e-learning business. 

Sally Binge (f)

Practice Nurse

DipHE Adult Nursing

After qualifying as a Registered Nurse at Kingston University in 2004, I commenced my career with the ward nursing team at the Princess Royal University Hospital – working on Medical, Orthopaedic and Gynaecology wards, before taking a career break to raise my family.

Following successful completion of the Return to Practice Course at Greenwich University in 2015, I joined the nursing team at Elm House Surgery and Cator Medical Centre and feel privileged to work with such a great bunch of colleagues.

I keep myself fit cycling to work and enjoy swimming and yoga, and I am never happier than when planning my next holiday!

Elizabeth Eastham (f)

Practice Nurse

I completed my Masters Degree in Nursing in 2003, and spent the first ten years of my nursing career working in hospitals in both England and Australia. My main speciality was Intensive Care, and I worked in the Critical Care Unit at the Royal Marsden Hospital for six years as a Senior Staff Nurse, Research Nurse and Practice Educator. In 2013 I moved into primary care, and have completed a Diploma in Contraception and an Independent Prescribing qualification. I am very pleased to be joining the nursing team at Elm House Surgery & Cator Medical Centre.

Janet Weaver (f)

Practice Nurse

Coming Soon…

Sarah Jack (f)

Practice Nurse

Coming Soon…

Michele Fox (f)

Practice Nurse

RGN, BSc, Dip Asthma / COPD

After primarily qualifying as a Registered Nurse in 1988, I went on to do my Midwifery training and, following working on a maternity unit, I went on to work on a children’s ward. I have worked in both NHS and private sectors gaining experience in medical and surgical areas. I have also worked in the community for many years as a Public Health Nurse and completed my BSc in 2009 as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse for 5-19 years. I continue to enjoy and embrace working with children, and I also have a keen interest in respiratory conditions, in which I have enjoyed running specialist asthma and COPD clinics. It is a privilege to be leading an enthusiastic team of nurses who are dynamic and forward thinking with patients’ best interests at heart.


Our Health Care Assistants

Our Health Care Assistants (HCA’s) work under the supervision of our Practice Nurses to provide care to patients needing a variety of physical tests and other aspects of care to support the management on long-term conditions.

Ellie Fairfax

Health Care Assistant

Fatima Balolong

Health Care Assistant

Leanne Smyk

Health Care Assistant

Allied Health Professionals – Primary Care Network (PCN)

Dionne Martindale (f)

PCN Social Prescriber

Irene Arjona (f)

PCN Podiatrist

Chris Collins (m)

PCN First Contact Physiotherapist

April Burrell (f)

PCN First Contact Physiotherapist

Monica Goez-Franco (f)

PCN Mental Health Practitioner

Lucinda Rothwell (f)

PCN Dietitian

Chloe Smith (f)

PCN Pharmacy Technician

Jade Little (f)

PCN Pharmacy Technician

PCN Pharmacists

Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler (f)

PCN Pharmacist

I obtained my Pharmacy degree at School of Pharmacy, University of London (now UCL) in 1986, and then worked across central and south London as community pharmacist/manager for Boots. I worked as a locum pharmacist in Kent, Surrey and Sussex for various chains and independent pharmacies and then worked in the Medicines Management team at Bromley CCG.

I completed a Pharmacy Practice Diploma including Independent Prescriber at Kings College London in 2018.

Linda Edemefaka (f)

PCN Pharmacist

Arti Jethwa (f)

PCN Pharmacist

Practice Management

Practice Management

Natalie Phillips

Managing Partner

After gaining a BSc in Biomedical Science at The University of Sheffield, followed by a brief stint supporting children with learning difficulties, I entered the world of healthcare, initially in dental practice management and later in primary care management.

I joined the Elm House & Cator team in 2013 as Assistant Practice Manager where I was taught by our former Business Manager, Jonathan Harrison (locally known as ‘Jonty’).

In 2017 I was promoted to Managing Partner and am fortunate to have a loyal, hardworking and much cherished team behind me.

I am passionate about patients receiving the best care possible, and do my utmost to ensure that we strive to deliver exacting standards, despite the current challenges faced by the NHS.

Outside of work you’ll probably find me being pulled along in the park by my yellow lab, or acting as quality control for my partner’s cookery hobby (luckily for me he’s a bit of a foodie).

Yvonn Knetsch

Financial Controller

Linda Whitehead

Assistant Practice Manager & Complaints Manager


Reception

Sharon Crawford (f)

Reception Manager

Shahn Slater (f)

Reception Supervisor


Administration

Hazel Atherley (f)

Administration Manager

Lynn Gillard (f)

Appointments Coordinator

Geoff Cook (m)

Patient Liaison Officer

Anita Allen (f)

Senior Quality & Outcomes Framework Officer



Our team has grown!

Your GP practice is open and here for you and your family.

In order to provide the right care at the right time, all GP practices are changing how they work. In a GP practice you will now find a wider team of specialists and professionals working together to help and care for you. The larger practice team is designed to best manage the very busy workload and the range of health needs that people have.  You may get referred to the most appropriate member of the team to provide the support you need.