Our physiotherapy team at the Three Shires Hospital
Shaun Patterson achieved his physiotherapy degree at the University of Hertfordshire in 2005. He has many years of experience working in private practice as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist working closely with consultants in a wide variety of specialities enabling him to enhance his clinical skills and all-around knowledge.
Shaun joined the team at Three Shires in 2011 as Clinical Team Lead before becoming Clinical Services Manager in 2016. Since then the department has grown and developed to meet the needs of our patients.
Shaun has excellent diagnostic skills and utilises a variety of treatment techniques through extensive practice and post-graduate training. He has continued to develop his interest in lower limb disorders and biomechanics exploring the effects of foot and ankle dysfunction on other areas of the body, in particular the knee, hip and lower back. This enables him to develop a tailored individual rehabilitation program allowing you to reach your goals and improve function.
In his spare time, Shaun enjoys motor sports and using his season ticket at the Northampton Saints Rugby Club.
Sarah graduated from the Queen Elizabeth School of Physiotherapy, Birmingham in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Physiotherapy.
She has worked in a variety of clinical areas, including the NHS, private practice, GP surgeries and private hospitals, specialising in musculoskeletal work.
Sarah was introduced to the APPI method of Pilates and subsequently completed her Pilates training to become a fully qualified Pilates Instructor in 2012.
Sarah now specialises in Women’s and Men’s Health physiotherapy and is a member of the Circle special interest group, working with clinicians across the country to ensure the best provision of care for this group of patients. Sarah is able to deliver specialist care for women ante-natally, postnatally and during pregnancy, for women who have undergone gynaecological surgery and for women who suffer with pelvic floor dysfunction.
Sarah also provides continence care for men, in particular for men diagnosed with prostate cancer, delivering pre-operative assessment and post-operative treatment and advice.
Sarah also continues to work as a musculoskeletal outpatient physiotherapist, providing assessment, treatment and advice for post-operative orthopaedic patients, as well as sports injury patients and patients with other musculoskeletal conditions.
In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and reading a variety of literature.
Rachel qualified as a physiotherapist in 2007 and following the completion of rotations within the areas of musculoskeletal, cardio-respiratory and neurological practice within the NHS she progressed to specialising within the neurological field. Rachel has extensive experience working with a breadth of neurological conditions within settings that include acute care, rehabilitation, outpatient clinics, and home and gym settings for long-term management. Specific areas of interest include multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and stroke. Rachel completed an MSc in Neurological rehabilitation in 2018, which allowed the application of research into practice to improve services available to individuals. Rachel worked extensively to evaluate and develop strategies to enable the promotion of the person’s perspective regarding the management of their long-term neurological condition and how to effectively maintain a high level of function and quality of life for each individual.
Rachel has utilised her knowledge of neurological practice and comprehensive understanding of the key elements of contemporary physiotherapy practice in academia and leads the MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration) Programme at the University of Northampton.
Rachel joined the team at Three Shires in 2022 to commence and then expand the range of physiotherapy input available to include services for anyone with a neurological condition to improve the management of their condition.
In her spare time, Rachel enjoys spending a lot of time outside, especially running.
Kathryn started her career as a Hand Therapist at Milton Keynes NHS Hospital and then moved to Northampton General NHS Hospital where she then worked as a Senior Hand Therapist and department lead for nearly 10 years. During this time, she gained experience in adult and paediatric complex trauma, orthopaedics, plastics and rheumatology.
Kathryn’s previous role as Hand Therapy Team Leader enabled her to gain experience working at the management level to expand and develop the NHS Hand Therapy service in Northamptonshire.
Kathryn left the NHS to focus on her private practice at The Three Shires Hospital in 2017. As part of her role within Circle Health Group, Kathryn is working with the Bedford Blues RFC 1st team, the Northamptonshire County Cricket Team and is regularly involved in local GP and AHP teaching events.
With the combined experience of NHS and Circle Health Group, Kathryn has gained a high level of expertise in the management of complex upper limb conditions. She carries out specialised assessment and treatment techniques for a wide range of hand injuries, symptoms and conditions both pre-and post-surgery.
She can assess and identify problems affecting the upper limb (hand, wrist & elbow) and provide advice on exercise, strengthening, sensory re-education, pain, scar & swelling management.
Debbie started working as a clinical specialist Hand Therapist at Three Shires in 2021.
Debbie qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2000, specialising in Hand Therapy in 2003. Debbie has worked in Hand Therapy departments at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Northampton General Hospital and Milton Keynes University Hospital, gaining expertise in assessing and treating hand conditions.
Debbie’s experience of hand therapy includes treating patients with orthopaedic, plastics and rheumatological conditions including, trauma, elective surgery and acquired conditions.
Debbie enjoys making thermoplastic splints and empowering patients to make a full recovery.
Tom began his academic career by completing a first-class honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 2006. Following this he studied at King’s College London, passing his MSc Pre-registration Physiotherapy in 2009 with merit.
After this Tom worked in the NHS in a rotational position before specialising in Musculo-skeletal disorders. Having spent time in elite sport at the Northamptonshire County Cricket Club, Tom has become accustomed to treating acute injuries whilst also working with long-term rehabilitation patients towards their ultimate goal of getting back to action. More recently Tom has been working in the private sector, treating a variety of post-operative and Musculo-skeletal disorders, identifying their individual needs, formalising a treatment plan and working towards the patients’ goal. Tom has a particular interest in sports-based injuries, working commonly with anterior cruciate ligaments cases, both before and after surgery. He is also known to have a particular interest in neck and shoulder pain but his broad spectrum of experience means he is comfortable with all conditions.
Since qualification Tom has kept developing his clinical practice and attended post-graduate training in the Mulligans manual techniques, acupuncture, hand therapy and more recently completed a Therapeutic Injection Masters Module from University of Essex enabling him to perform pain-relieving injections into soft-tissues and joints.
Juli Walker gained a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy in 1997 from Brunel University. Starting her career in the NHS she began specialising in outpatients and trauma and orthopaedics in 1999. She has undertaken a varied number of physiotherapies post graduate courses including several from the society of orthopaedic medicine and further sports and manual therapy courses.
Juli joined Circle Health Group in 2007 and continues to help provide and in and outpatient service for our clients.
Juli has a special interest in breast care and works closer with our specialist team to support patients' post-surgery to return to normal function. In addition, Juli has recently undertaken several cognitive behavioural therapy courses to benefit some of our more complex caseload.
In her spare time Juli enjoys going to the gym and completing jigsaws, the more complex the better!
Sarah Williams has been a physiotherapist at Three Shires for 14 years having previously worked in the NHS for many years gaining experience in all areas of in and outpatients. She currently works in an outpatient setting in the private sector and loves to be able to help patients achieve their full potential, whether this is post orthopedic surgery or from a muscular skeletal issue.
She has maintained a good level of CPD covering her particular interests in shoulders and all spinal conditions, having spent 2 years training to become a McKenzie Accredited Therapist. Sarah has also become a physiotherapist lead Pilates Instructor, attending whilst attending specialist courses in shoulder rehabilitation, Pilates for post spinal surgery, Cognitive Behavorial Therapy and the treatment of Vestibular Insufficiency.
In her spare time Sarah takes a lead role in the regional street pastoring volunteer community, providing teaching to other services as far afield as Ghana and the Caribbean.
Claire Gibbons gained a Sports therapy degree at the University of Kent in 2013 before completing her Masters in Physiotherapy at The University of Oxford Brookes in 2019.
Claire has experience with a variety of sports and sports injuries. She has progressed through the public and private sector through her physiotherapy training, developing and enhancing her knowledge and clinical skills before joining Circle Health Group in January 2020.
Claire has worked widely with consultants progressing patients on the ward moving them forwards into outpatients. Claire is developing an oncology pathway from rehabilitation, inpatient care and post treatment rehabilitation to assist those with an oncology diagnosis. Claire has a keen interest in sporting injuries and orthopaedic pathways, especially knees and ankles. Claire is looking to attend a number of training courses to develop her knowledge base to coincide with her practical application at Circle.
In her spare time Claire is a keen sport enthusiast, especially football, plus she is notorious for taking long walks with her dog.
Joanne took up the post of Physiotherapy Assistant at Three Shires Hospital in 2011 and with her knowledge of sport, physiology and anatomy she was strongly advised to study Sports Massage or a Sports Therapy Foundation degree. She gained VTCT Level 3 Certificate in Sports Massage in 2013 and went on to gain Level 4 in 2014 within the Sports Department at Moulton College.
Within her two years' experience of studying, she gained further experience by being accepted to learn with elite sports clubs such as Northampton Saints Rugby, Northamptonshire County Cricket Club and Bedford Blues Rugby Club where she also currently works as a Soft Tissue Therapist.
Joanne continues to support the Physiotherapy Department and work alongside the Physios with particular interests in the rehab of hip and knee replacements, with other knee joint problems. She regularly attends training sessions within Circle and professional therapist seminars for continued development.
In her spare time Jo is a keen cricket fan, supporting her local teams and coaching in the Northamptonshire girls’ academy.
