Partners & GPs
Our Partners
Shelli Fineberg (f)
Managing Partner &
Practice Manager
Bio
My name is Shelli Fineberg.
I am the Managing Partner at the surgery which means that I have overall responsibility for the day to day running of the practice and the management of all the Government initiatives, implementation of patient services and recruitment and retention of staff.
I went to Park Lane College of Further Education and did the AMSPAR Diploma in Practice Management.
I have worked at the surgery since 1984.
Dr Amy Izon (f)
GP Partner
Bio
Dr Izon qualified from the university of Leeds medical school in 2013.
She completed her foundation and gp training here in leeds and has early training experience in general medicine and surgery, elderly care, emergency medicine, psychiatry and medical oncology.
Dr Izon has worked in the practice since 2017 becoming a gp partner in July 2020.
She is GP lead for our local care home and also the lead tutor for the medical students training within the practice.
Her other interests include swimming, running, and walking her dog.
She is an excellent cook and enjoys baking in her spare time.
Dr Annette M C Bearpark (f)
GP Partner
State Exam Med FRG DRCOG FP MRCGP
Bio
After qualifying in Berlin in 1989 I moved to the UK to start my postgraduate training.
I became a partner at Meanwood in 1998.
I am interested in medical politics and I am also the safeguarding lead for the practice.
In my free time I enjoy cycling and cold water swimming.
Dr Richard M Vautrey (m)
GP Partner
MBChB (hons) MRCGP DRCOG DCH
Bio
Richard qualified in Manchester in 1988 and then did his GP training in Manchester and Rochdale. He also spent 18 months as a GP in Nigeria.
He has been a partner in the practice since 1994.
Richard has a number of other roles and is currently the president of the Royal College of General Practitioners. He is the clinical director of Central North Leeds PCN and the primary medical services member of West Yorkshire ICB. He is the assistant secretary of Leeds LMC and a nationally elected member of BMA Council. He is the former chair of the BMA GP committee in England and GPC UK.
He is married with two sons and enjoys gardening and walking.
Dr Rob Hayes (m)
GP Partner
MBChB nMRCGP (Full Time)
Bio
Qualified 2010 (Leeds)
Rob qualified from the university of Leeds in 2005 and went on to complete hospital-based foundation training before joining the Leeds GP training scheme.
He qualified as a GP in 2010 and has worked at Meanwood group practice since then, becoming a partner in 2011.
He is a GP trainer and is involved in the supervision and training of the GP registrars based at our practice.
He is also practice lead for diabetes.
Dr Sanjeed Chida (m)
GP Partner
MBBS, MRCS, MSc, MRCGP, Dip Otolaryngology
Bio
Sanjeed qualified in India (1993) and has worked in the West Indies, he then moved to the UK to complete his postgraduate surgical training in London, his master’s at the University of Lincoln, MRCGP in Leeds and a diploma in Otolaryngology.
He has been a partner at the Meanwood Group practice since 2005.
He has a special interest in ENT and IT and is the clinical lead for the ENT and Audiology services based at Meanwood that provides ENT services to the Leeds community.
When not at work he is in the outdoors, he loves hiking, gardening and photography.
Dr Ruth J Cunliffe (f)
GP Partner
MBBS, MRCOG, MRCGP, DFFP
(Part Time)
Bio
Ruth qualified from newcastle university in 1991 and initially trained in obstetrics and gynaecology before becoming a GP.
Ruth joined the practice in 2002 and set up the community gynaecology service in 2004 as a result of her interest in women’s health and family planning.
Ruth provides clinics in gynaecology, family planning and runs a baby clinic.
Ruth is married with three children and is involved with her local church and junior church.
She enjoys pilates, cycling and playing bridge.
Dr Clare Spencer (f)
GP Partner
BA (Hons) MA, MB BChir; DM; MRCOG; MRCGP; DFFP
Bio
Clare Spencer qualified in 1995 from Cambridge university. She has training in obstetrics and gynaecology and holds membership of the royal college of obstetricians and gynaecologists as well as membership of the royal college of general practitioners.
She is a registered menopause specialist and runs a specialist menopause clinic as well as working in the community gynaecology clinic.
She fits coils and implants also and has an interest in women’s health and contraception.
She is married and has 3 children, a dog and several chickens.
Dr Laurie Tew (m)
GP Partner
Qualified 2014 (Newcastle)
Bio
Originally from York, I studied Medicine in Newcastle, graduating in 2014.
I worked in the North East for a few years before moving to Leeds, where I worked in Emergency Medicine for a short time before starting GP Training.
I started to work in Meanwood as part of my training, and stayed to work as a GP after I qualified.
In my free time I enjoy walking, outdoor sports, cooking, and spending time with family.
Dr Pier Ghirotto (m)
GP Partner
Qualified 2010 (Leeds) – Full time
Bio
Born in Padova (italy) I moved to the london in 1993 and gradually made my way up north, settling in leeds in 2005.
After completing foundation training, I worked in emergency medicine at Bradford royal infirmary and Sutherland hospital, Caringbah (Australia) for a total of 18 months before joining the Leeds GP training scheme.
I joined Meanwood practice in September 2018 where I also enjoy minor surgery and joint injections as a special interest.
In my spare time I enjoy good food, exercise and theatre.
Dr Natalie Hodgson (f)
MB ChB DRCOG MRCGP
(Part Time)
Joanne Harris (f)
Clinical Prescribing Pharmacist
IP MRPharmS
Pharmacist
Bio
A graduate of the universities of Liverpool John Moores and Bradford, Joanne’s role involves managing patients medicines to focus on maximum benefit with minimised risk.
Her daily role includes patient queries about medicines, patient medication reviews, chronic disease management, reconciliation of clinic letters and discharge information with regards to medication changes as well as keeping everyone up to date with new medications, drug monitoring, stock issues and supporting the reception team with prescriptions.
She works Monday – Friday here at Meanwood group practice and as an independent prescriber can make relevant changes to medications where required.
Joanne said: “my aim is to help patients get the most from their medications, involving the patient in their conditions and treatment to give them the best outcomes.
I can triage and treat minor conditions, but most of my work involves helping patients with already diagnosed conditions.”
Nurses
Our team of highly skilled nurses are; Mary, Irene, Gill, Becky and Emily. They all work part time so please ask the Receptionist if you wish to see a particular nurse.
The practice nurses have appointments throughout the day. We may need to ask you what your appointment is for as this sometimes determines the length of appointment. If you do not wish to tell the receptionist the reason for this that is perfectly acceptable.
Unfortunately, as the nursing appointments vary in length depending on the reason for the attendance, we are unable to offer standard appointment booking on-line at this time though we are trying to work out a way of doing this so that booking nurses appointments is as convenient as possible.
Appointments can be booked up to 3 months in advance.
All nursing services are by appointment only.
Alex Bainbridge (f)
Lead Nurse
Debbie Hepworth (f)
Lead Nurse
Gill Nevill (f)
Practice Nurse
Irene Fisk (f)
Practice Nurse
Becky Diamond (f)
Practice Nurse
Mary King (f)
Practice Nurse
Emily Butler (f)
Practice Nurse
Other Clinical Staff
Phlebotomists
The practice has four phlebotomists; they take bloods for testing and blood pressure readings .
They will only be able to take bloods if the doctor or hospital have requested it.
We are unable to perform blood tests at the request of patients without a clinical reason to do so.
Gemma McWilliams (f)
Donna Wardle (f)
Lauren Stoute (f)
Alison Hawksworth (f)
Healthcare Assistants
Our healthcare assistant is Jill. They are available by appointment for blood tests, quit smoking advice, ECGs and much more – our receptionist can advise you if you are not sure who to make your appointment with.
Marie is also our care co-ordinator and looks after the patients who are most at risk of hospital admission.
Jill Hathaway (f)
Marie Connolly (f)
Health Practitioner
Bio
Marie is our well-being co-ordinator/social prescriber.
She looks after frail and socially isolated patients in the community and can help patients to access voluntary services; social care and other services to prevent loneliness, and hospital admission in the elderly and frail.
Community Midwives
The community midwife works with the doctors to provide care for mothers before and after delivery and care for the baby in the first 28 days of life.
Health Visitors
A health visitor is a registered nurse who has received training particularly related to babies, children and pregnant women.
Their role is to provide families with children under five years old with support and advice around the general aspects of mental, physical and social wellbeing.
Attached Staff
The health centre houses a team of community staff which includes community matrons, community nurses, speech therapists, podiatrists (chiropody), some mental health therapy services, and the community musculoskeletal services (physiotherapy) – for information about these services you can telephone the community administration on 0113 8433350.
Reception Team
Receptionists provide an important link for patients with the practice and are your initial contact point for general enquiries.
They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query.
Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses.
They also perform other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with prescription enquiries, dealing with financial claims, dealing with patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits.
They also have a responsibility to offer care navigation which is a skill they have been trained to provide by offering patients the most appropriate service for their requirements.
This is why the team may ask you a couple of questions about why you want to attend the surgery.
Please help them to help you by giving them the information they require to signpost you to the correct service.
Fiona McCarthy (f)
Reception Manager
Bio
Fiona is our reception manager and is responsible for the smooth running of reception and developing the rest of the team and their care navigation skills.
She is also responsible for our patient reference group and is always looking for interested patients to take part in the practice development.
Louise
Receptionist
Louise M
Receptionist
Ann
Receptionist
Judith
Receptionist
Marion
Receptionist
Alison
Receptionist
Julie
Receptionist
Bev
Receptionist
Tia
Receptionist
Ella
Receptionist
Layla
Receptionist
Juliana
Receptionist
Administration Team
Administration
Our admin team includes data clerks who are responsible for keeping your computerised medical records up to date.
We comply will all the principles of the Data Protection Act.
Secretaries
Our secretaries, Julie, Magda & Louise are responsible for assisting the GPs with their administrative duties, including making referrals and liaising with hospitals and other agencies.
They are very experienced and knowledgeable about the services provided in the hospitals and in the community and will be happy to follow up any referrals made to services outside of the practice.