Meet The Rivers Physiotherapy Team

The Rivers Physiotherapy Team

Janice Hoy

Physiotherapy Receptionist

On entering the physiotherapy department at Rivers Hospital you will be greeted by our friendly receptionist Janice, who will be able to assist you with your booking and any other queries you may have.

Sarah Keen

Sarah, a physiotherapist with over 30 years of experience, specializes in musculoskeletal and paediatric care, including 15 years in private practice. She has a particular focus on manual therapy for spinal issues and collaborates with paediatric consultants at Rivers Hospital. Additionally, Sarah is trained in phototherapy, treating skin conditions with ultraviolet light. She is a member of HCPC and CSP and is available at the clinic on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. View profile here.

Donna Curtis

Donna, a physiotherapist qualified since 1993 from the University of Stellenbosch, has extensive experience in sports and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. She has worked with elite athletes in South Africa and in both NHS and private sectors in the UK, including as a first-team physiotherapist for a rugby club. Donna specializes in late-stage knee and shoulder rehabilitation, sports recovery, and is trained in Pilates and acupuncture. She also practices phototherapy for skin conditions. Donna is a member of HCPC, CSP, and AACP, and is available at the clinic on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. View profile here.

Annabell Simons

Annabel, a physiotherapist since 2007, has experience in both NHS and private sectors, treating musculoskeletal conditions, post-operative orthopaedic cases, trauma, and sports injuries. Pilates-trained through Dance Medicine Australia, she uses this expertise to support patients with acute and chronic back pain. At Rivers, Annabel provides inpatient rehabilitation for joint replacements, spinal, and gynaecological surgeries. She is a member of HCPC and CSP and is available in the clinic on Tuesdays. View profile here.

Karen Rattray

Karen, a physiotherapist since 1990, holds a postgraduate diploma in Sports Physiotherapy and has extensive experience working with elite athletes, including at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. She has served at Rivers Hospital for 23 years, specializing in Women’s Health for over a decade. Karen’s expertise includes treating pelvic health issues such as incontinence, prolapse, post-natal recovery, and musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy. She is a member of HCPC and CSP, and is available at the clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays. View profile here.

Phillipa Smith

Philippa is an experienced physiotherapist with a background from St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, and a career spanning both NHS and private practice. She specialises in managing acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders, as well as post-operative rehabilitation for shoulder, spinal, knee, and hip surgeries. A member of ATACP and AOCP, Philippa actively stays updated on best practices. She is available at the clinic on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. View profile here.

Rachel Leung

Rachel is a senior physiotherapist with over 30 years of experience, trained at Guy’s Hospital Physiotherapy School. Her diverse background includes roles in acute care, respiratory, and paediatric physiotherapy in the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong. Since 2002, she has been a Senior Inpatient Physiotherapist at Rivers Hospital, specializing in paediatric and respiratory care. Rachel is a member of HCPC and CSP and is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. View profile here.

Sean Vandenberg

Sean, a physiotherapist since 2000, began his career in the NHS before joining Rivers Hospital as a Senior Outpatient Physiotherapist. With over 15 years of experience in the private sector, he specializes in musculoskeletal injuries and uses various techniques, including electrotherapy, acupuncture, taping, and shockwave therapy for long-term tendon conditions. Sean is a member of HCPC and CSP and is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. View profile here.

Suzi Ditchfield

Suzi, a physiotherapist with over 30 years of experience, specializes in trauma, orthopaedics, and hand therapy. After qualifying from the Bradford School of Physiotherapy, she worked in the UK and spent two years in Australia setting up a successful hand therapy unit. Suzi has been with the Rivers Physiotherapy Team for over 20 years, focusing on surgical and orthopaedic rehabilitation. She is skilled in custom hand splinting and uses electrotherapy and exercise techniques to optimize patient outcomes. Suzi is a member of HCPC and CSP and is available on Mondays and Thursdays. View profile here.

Kate Shaw

Kate, a physiotherapist since 2003, specializes in orthopaedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. After her junior rotations in the NHS, she focused on treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions using exercise prescription, manual therapies, acupuncture, and electrotherapy. Kate has a special interest in oncology physiotherapy, specifically supporting breast cancer patients post-mastectomy or lumpectomy, focusing on pain, shoulder function, and scar management. She is a member of HCPC, CSP, and AACP and is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. View profile here.

Kathy Winsor

Kathy, a physiotherapist qualified from St Thomas's Hospital London, has a diverse career spanning the UK, Australia, and Essex. She has expertise in neurological rehabilitation, respiratory conditions, and musculoskeletal specialties, with a particular interest in acupuncture. Kathy also focuses on long-Covid rehabilitation and aquatic therapy. She is a member of HCPC, CSP, and AACP and practices at the clinic on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. View profile here.

Nicola Monk

Nicola, a physiotherapist with a first-class honours degree from Coventry University, specializes in treating musculoskeletal conditions in outpatient settings, with some experience on the ward. Her clinical interests include orthopaedics, knee rehabilitation, and ACL rehab. Nicola is a member of HCPC and CSP and is available at the clinic on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. View profile here.

Lauren Nelson

Lauren, a physiotherapist who graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2022, has completed rotations in orthopaedics, neurology/respiratory, and musculoskeletal care. She has a strong interest in orthopaedic rehabilitation, musculoskeletal sporting injuries, and return-to-sport rehabilitation. Lauren runs a post-op joint class for patients after hip and knee replacements and is qualified in sports massage and electrotherapy. She is actively involved in expanding the day-case hip and knee replacement pathway at Rivers Hospital. Lauren is a member of HCPC and CSP and is available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. View profile here.

Jon Baker

Jon is a dedicated physiotherapist with a focus on injury management and rehabilitation using conservative, non-invasive techniques. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy from Auckland, New Zealand, in 2017, and is currently pursuing a Master's in Advanced Neurological Physiotherapy at University College London, set to graduate in 2024. Jon specializes in neurological physiotherapy, treating both chronic and acute conditions, and uses evidence-based practices to deliver personalized care. He believes in the body's innate ability to heal and strives to empower patients through education and collaborative, individualized treatment plans. View profile here.

Ben Roberts

Ben, a physiotherapist who graduated with first-class honours from Cardiff University in 2024, joined Rivers Hospital shortly after completing his studies. He has experience in MSK outpatient settings, community care for falls and stroke discharge, and inpatient care for cardiothoracic surgeries. Ben specializes in using exercise, manual techniques, and electrotherapy to enhance physical performance. With a sporting background, he has a keen interest in advanced rehabilitation, particularly ACL rehab, and is pursuing further courses in hand therapy. Ben works in outpatient care on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, on the ward on Wednesdays, and runs post-op rehab classes for joint replacements and a knee class on Thursday evenings. He is a member of HCPC and CSP. View profile here.

Sadaf Niaz

Sadaf, a recent graduate from King’s College London with a BSc(Hons) in Physiotherapy, has completed a range of placements in antenatal and postnatal women’s health, neurological paediatrics, sports MSK clinics, and inpatient orthopaedics. During her studies, she worked as a Bank Physiotherapist Technician at Rivers, assisting with post-surgery rehab for hip and knee replacements. Since joining Rivers, Sadaf has contributed to the post-op joint class for hip and knee replacements and helped develop the new back school service. She is qualified in Level 3 Sports Massage and aims to further her career with courses in taping, acupuncture, and antenatal/postnatal women’s health. Sadaf is a member of HCPC and CSP and is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. View profile here.

Anne Nicol

Anne has been a Physiotherapy Technician at Rivers Hospital for over 25 years, following prior experience in the NHS. She holds a Level 3 Care Certificate and other qualifications to ensure top-quality patient care. Anne assists inpatient physiotherapists with mobilizing and rehabilitating patients post-surgery and has been instrumental in running the aquatic therapy service for spinal and hip surgery patients for the past 12 years. She also leads joint rehabilitation classes for hip and knee replacement recovery. Anne is known for her strong relationship-building skills and plays a vital role in the smooth running of the Physiotherapy Department. She is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. View profile here.

Lauren O'Toole

Lauren is an experienced Physiotherapy Technician with over 5 years of expertise in orthopaedic post-surgery care, joint replacement rehabilitation, functional restoration, Long Covid rehabilitation, and wound care. At Rivers, she supports senior therapists in various group rehab services, including aquatic therapy, joint classes, and back-to-fitness programs, and has recently begun leading her own joint replacement rehab classes. Lauren is a qualified Level 3 Senior Health Care Support Worker and holds a Care Certificate. She has a particular interest in wound care and conducts post-surgical wound clinics. Additionally, Lauren has been accepted into the Ramsay Academy to pursue a Nursing degree starting in January 2024. She is a member of the Rivers Hospital Wellbeing team and is available Monday through Friday. View profile here.

Kerry O'Donovan

Kerry is a dedicated Physiotherapy Technician with over 2 years of experience at Rivers Hospital. She works with inpatients following orthopaedic post-surgery care and focuses on joint replacement rehabilitation for outpatients. Kerry has a special interest in wound care and runs her own wound clinics, having completed a Tissue Viability and Wound Care Management course. She also assists senior physiotherapists with aqua therapy sessions and joint replacement classes. View profile here.

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