Northumberland

Operations Manager

Hannah joined Connect in 2012 and has worked as a Senior Physiotherapist and Team Leader, having been responsible for supporting staff across the Blyth and Remote PhysioLine contracts which includes education, clinical audit and clinical development. As well as practicing clinically as a Senior Physiotherapist within the Blyth and Remote PhysioLine contracts.

Hannah became Service Manager for the Northumberland Joint MSK & Pain Service (JMAPS) in 2021 and is also responsible for the Remote/ Out of Hours MSK Services. Hannah has now progressed to Operations Manager.

Hannah qualified as a Physiotherapist from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2006. She worked as a Junior Physiotherapist at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust before she joined Connect in 2012. She has completed Connect’s ADP programme and has worked across different contracts including Essex, North Kirklees, and the North East services.

Clinical Operational Group Business Partner

Helen joined Connect Health in 2010 and currently works as a Clinical Operational Group Business Partner. Previously she held the position of Developing Consultant Physiotherapist, supporting staff across the North East contracts with education, clinical audits, clinical development and governance, whilst still practicing clinically as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (APP) in MSK CATS clinics and First Contact Practitioner Clinics.

Helen qualified as a Physiotherapist from Northumbria University in 2001 and worked in a variety of roles at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust before she joined Connect Health in 2010. During this time, she also completed a PGCert at the University of Teesside.

In 2017 and 2018, Helen co-authored 2 articles around the effectiveness of community MSK physiotherapy, and EQ5D outcome measures as a predictor of physiotherapy management. Helen also presented at Physiotherapy UK. Helen is the current Honorary Chair of the North East Charted Society of Physiotherapy regional network and is a member of the NICE Guideline Development Committee for hip, knee and shoulder replacement.

Physiotherapy Team Leader

Jess graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in Summer 2014 and joined the Connect Graduate programme in December of the same year. She has since worked her way through from Junior to Senior Physiotherapist and earlier this year took on the role of Physiotherapy Team Leader within JMAPS. She has a special interest in Women’s Health, particularly in ante-natal pelvic girdle pain, and has worked with colleagues to improve the pathway and service for women’s health conditions in South Tyneside. Jess also took part in a national project of training various different clinicians of different experience levels in how to use computer based notes systems.

Clinical Lead

Nick is an experienced Clinical Lead and combines his clinical and leadership responsibilities at Connect Health with a Senior Lecturer post at Teesside University.

He has worked in advanced musculoskeletal practice roles for several years and has experience in developing clinical governance and quality assurance standards. He contributes to the national development of Physiotherapy Education, Research and Clinical Practice in his role as Vice Chair of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy professional committee.

He is passionate about continued professional development across all of the MSK professions and has been an invited speaker at regional, national and international conferences. This passion also led to the development of the North East MSK Society which he chairs. He is currently studying for his PhD and has recently been successful in his application to begin a one year Developing Consultant Practitioner role.