Our Staff

Doctors

DR SHANTHAKUMAR (SHANNY) RASAKUMARAN

GP Partner

MB ChB, MRCGP, MSc (SEM) GMC 6039176 (m) Dr Shanny attended a local school and college before embarking on a career in medicine at The University of Sheffield where he graduated in 2001 with an undergraduate medical degree. He initially pursued surgical training before moving to general practice. Having completed general practice training he joined the health centre initially as a salaried GP in 2011 and then as a partner in 2015. Dr Shanny is passionate about all aspects of young people’s health and is keen to promote this at a local and national level. He has a special interest in musculoskeletal and sports medicine, minor surgery and medical education. As the Care Quality Commission (CQC) manager he takes the lead role for safeguarding and clinical governance. Outside work he enjoys spending time with his family and where possible enjoys a spot of DIY and gardening.

DR JULIA THOMAS

GP Partner

GMC 4631774 (f) Dr Thomas trained at Leeds School of Medicine, qualifying in 1999. She initially started training in surgery before spending many years working in A&E. She retrained as a GP in Harrogate and has worked in practices in the Knaresborough and Harrogate area and more recently in Bradford. She became a Partner at the Practice in April 2018. She works one day a week as a Dermatology GPwSI in Bradford and also has an interest in mental health. Dr Thomas is on the Board of the Yorkshire Faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners and has been training GPs since 2022.

DR EMILY LANCASTER

GP Partner

MBChB, MRCGP GMC 7459125 (f) Dr Lancaster joined the Practice in early 2022, and is undertaking the GP fellowship scheme. She completed her training at the University of Manchester and returned to her home town of Huddersfield to complete her GP training. Dr Lancaster is interested in young people's Mental Health, Chronic Disease management and enjoys working closely with the University of Huddersfield and supporting students. Dr Lancaster represents the Practice at Primary Care Network meetings.

DR CATHERINE O’SHAUGHNESSY

Salaried GP - MBBS. DRCOG

GMC 4421214 (f) Dr O'Shaughnessy qualified from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1997. She has worked at the practice since 2003. She has an interest in Diabetes and also has faculty qualifications for insertion/removal of coils and implants.

DR ANDREW SNOWDEN

Salaried GP - MBChB, BA (Hons), MRCGP

GMC 7039652 (m) Dr Snowden studied Medicine at Leeds Medical School and also took a degree in Healthcare Ethics during his studies. He qualified as a doctor in 2009 and trained as a GP in the Halifax/Huddersfield area, qualifying in 2014. He started working at The University Health Centre shortly afterwards. His main interests are in mental health and in training, for which he is the lead for medical students from the University of Leeds. Dr Snowden is the lead for our Transgender population and also oversees Chronic Disease Management in the practice. He recently qualified to teach and train GPs.

DR CASSANDRA ROBINSON

Salaried GP. - MBChB, nMRCGP, DRCOG

GMC 6128681 (f) Dr Robinson studied medicine at the University of Glasgow, qualifying in 2005. After working in Scotland for a few years she took some time to travel and then started the GP training scheme in Hull. On completion of GP training in 2011 she moved back closer to home to work in the Huddersfield area and joined the practice in 2020. She enjoys the wide spectrum of General Practice but has interests in Mental Health and Cancer Care.

DR TASNEEM SIDDIQUI

Salaried GP - MBChB, MRCGP

GMC 6163268 (f) Dr Siddiqui studied Medicine at the University of Glasgow and took an intercalated degree in Cancer Studies. Qualifying as a Doctor in 2007, Dr Siddiqui worked briefly in Paediatrics before training as a GP in Huddersfield & Halifax. Joining the Practice in 2022 she is the clinical lead for Learning Disabilities and for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

DR ELIZABETH (LIZZIE) SWEETING

Salaried GP - MBChB

PGCert in Medical Leadership GMC 7488563 (f) Dr Sweeting joined the practice in 2023 having completed her GP training here. Since graduating in Medicine from Leeds Medical School in 2015 she has worked in a variety of settings including A&E in both the UK and in Australia. Dr Sweeting has a special interest in Patient Safety, Quality Improvement and in Clinical Leadership.

GP Registrar

Our practice is now involved in the further training of doctors for the special skills required in primary care. Every six months we have a doctor attached to our practice who will initially see patients with one of the partners and then run their own surgery. This doctor has the title of GP Registrar. They are fully qualified doctors and will often have several years' experience of hospital medicine before joining us in general practice. Dr Tauseef Anjum is our current GP Registrar.

Medical Students

Since 2016 the practice has welcomed Medical Students to the team. This means students will be sitting in on some clinics. They will be learning how to take detailed histories from a patient in order to make a diagnosis. If you do not wish for the medical student to be present during your consultation, please let the receptionist know.

Advanced Nurse Practitioners

KATIE CRABTREE

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Katie trained at Huddersfield University and qualified in 2004. She has worked in various roles such as Accident and Emergency, nursing on cruise ships and Walk in Medical Centres. Katie joined the practice in 2015. She can treat patients with minor illnesses and injuries.

Mental Health Practitioner

ZARA AHSAN-KAZKOUZEH

Zara trained at the University of Huddersfield, Kings College London and at University College London. She is a trained Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and is experienced in Early Intervention in Psychosis. She has worked in different mental health services as a Therapist, Assistant Psychologist and Mental health practitioner. She joined the practise in 2023, assessing and treating mental health presentations.

Nurses

NURSE LAURA POSTON-LORD

Laura qualified as a Registered General Nurse from the University of Leeds in 2017. She is qualified in the fitting and removal of implants, and in Sexual Health and Reproduction. During her nurse training she had various student placements including A & E, a surgical ward, a stroke ward and 2 general practice placements. Laura previously worked as a Healthcare assistant at Spire and joined the practice in September 2017 as a Junior Practice Nurse. Laura is also the Lead Nurse for the Tolson Primary Care Network (PCN).

Healthcare Assistants

ELAINE LLOYD

Starting her career as a Doctor's Receptionist, Elaine then qualified in Health Care in 2016 and went on to work in a specialist Dermatology clinic. Joining the Practice in January 2021, Elaine supports the Nurses in Contraception and Sexual Heath Clinics, assists in Minor Surgery, conducts patient Health Checks and performs Chronic Illness reviews. She is trained in Phlebotomy and provides advice on a wide range of health and lifestyle matters.

HANNAH HUMPHREYS

After qualifying with a BTEC diploma in Health and Social Care in 2007, Hannah worked in a variety of healthcare settings before joining a GP Practice in 2015 to develop in the role of Health Care Assistant. Having also supported a specialist Dermatology service with minor surgery, Hannah joined the team in 2023 and is qualified in Phlebotomy, ECGs, Chronic Illness review and to assist GPs and Nurses in their clinics.

Practice Management

NICOLA KELLY

Practice Manager

Administration

KELLY ROPER

Secretary

SHIRLEY FIELD

Secretary

JUDITH COULTER

Administrator

LAURA ROBERTS

Administrator

TRACEY MCKEVITT

Administrator

MEGAN BRADY

Lead Patient Care Co-ordinator

JOSIE BECKETT

Patient Care Co-ordinator

KATIE ELDRIDGE

Patient Care Co-ordinator

MEGAN BARRETT-COOPER

Patient Care Co-ordinator

KATIE KNIGHT

Patient Care Co-ordinator

CHERYL MAXWELL

Patient Care Co-ordinator