There is a range of staff, including those who have many years’ experience and areas of specialty. The team prides themselves on continually updating their skills and practice to ensure that high-quality care is provided to all our patients.
Each team considers the individual patient needs, ensuring that a shared decision-making approach is taken to put them at the centre of all they do. Appointments are available in a range of locations to provide local care in the appropriate setting to support patient rehabilitation. We will also support with ongoing self-management of patient's conditions where appropriate and utilise local community services to aid this.
We have the ability to provide a seamless service, allowing patients to access specialist services without delay where required.
Meet our team!
Mandy Bulgan - Therapy Manager
Matt Hurst – Advanced Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist
Matt has a background of Sports Science, Professional Sport & Physiotherapy, he has been qualified since 2001, and has been an Advanced Clinical Specialist since 2014. He has a special interest in upper limb disorders and is actively completing MSc modules to further advance his skill-set. Matt completes clinics at both MDGH & CWMH sites and outside of work enjoys football, golf, boxing, and socialising.
Richard Saxton – Advanced Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist
Richard qualified in 2010 from the University of Nottingham as a Physiotherapist and has worked for East Cheshire Trust since 2014. He completed his Master's in Sports Physiotherapy at the University of Bath in 2019. He has a special interest in complex rehabilitation patients and paediatric physiotherapy. He is based in Knutsford and MDGH. Outside of work, Richard has an interest in most sports, regularly playing league hockey and tennis.
Gareth Redfern – Advanced Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist – Rheumatology
Gareth qualified as a physiotherapist in 2006 and has specialised in rheumatology and chronic pain since 2009. He has been the lead physiotherapist for Mid Cheshire since then and in 2017 joined the East Cheshire Trust to lead the service here. His role is Advanced Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Rheumatology, and he completed a PGDip in Rheumatology in 2020. He works out of Macclesfield District General Hospital and has links with both the 3 Valleys Healthcare and Stepping Hill Hospital rheumatology consultant teams.
Fiona Harrison – Advanced Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist – Pelvic Health
Fiona qualified as a physiotherapist from the University of Salford in 1997 and has worked for East Cheshire NHS Trust since then. She specialises in obstetrics, gynaecology, and male pelvic health and has a particular interest in female pelvic floor dysfunction. She is based at MDGH but also holds clinics at Knutsford and Congleton. In her spare time, she enjoys singing opera, running, and cycling.
Jack Mullins – Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner
Jack is one of our Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioners, having graduated from Keele University as a physiotherapist in 2011. He has worked across East Cheshire Trust for 9 years now, mainly as an outpatient physiotherapist, before starting his training with Manchester Metropolitan University in 2021. He works within the Middlewood Primary Care Network as a First Contact Practitioner and with Orthopaedic Consultants at Macclesfield District General Hospital. Jack has a specialist interest in sports injuries and works at Sandbach Rugby Club as part of the medical team.
Vicki Austin – Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner
Vicki gained a BSc (Hons) in Physiology from Leeds University in 2008. After qualifying as a Physiotherapist from The University of Birmingham in 2010, Vicki has worked as a clinical specialist physiotherapist within East Cheshire NHS Trust, with a specialist interest in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and sports injuries. Vicki is completing a 3 year Master's in Advanced Clinical Practice at Manchester Metropolitan University. She works closely with Orthopaedic consultants at Macclesfield District General Hospital in fracture and elective clinics. She has a specialist interest in MSK injection therapy, radiology interpretation, and clinical research. In her spare time, Vicki enjoys the gym and playing hockey for Macclesfield Ladies Hockey Club.
Annabel Allen – Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist/Breast Cancer Care
Annabel qualified as a physiotherapist from the University of Salford in 2008 when she began her physio career locuming around many of the Manchester Hospitals, working with amputees in Withington and in respiratory medicine at Tameside Hospital. She has worked at East Cheshire NHS Trust since 2009. She has a special interest in oncology and breast cancer care and is currently completing a Master’s module in this area with The Royal Marsden School. She is based at MDGH and Handforth Clinic. Outside of work, she enjoys swimming, HIIT training, and running around after her 3-year-old son.
Mark Bowe – Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Mark’s higher education initially followed his passion for sport and he graduated in 2004 with a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science. He went on to further his study with a BSc in Physiotherapy, graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2008.
Since then Mark has worked with England and Scotland Lacrosse and had extensive roles within Manchester City FC as an academy physiotherapist working with all age groups from U9 to U23 and both the Women’s 1st team and development squads. He has begun his Master's journey, starting with advanced clinical practice in musculoskeletal medicine at Manchester Metropolitan University. He holds clinics at Wilmslow and at MDGH.
Helen Ashton – Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Helen has over 30 years experience of working within the NHS. She studied BSc Physiotherapy at Sheffield City Polytechnic (now Sheffield Hallam University) and qualified in 1991. Helen began working at Macclesfield District General Hospital as a Junior Physiotherapist experiencing all areas of Physiotherapy practice available. She then went on to work as a Senior Physiotherapist at North Staffordshire Hospital, Longton Cottage Hospital, Bradwell Hospital, and Kidsgrove Health Centre gaining experience in Neurosurgery, Stroke Rehabilitation, MSK Out-Patients, Elderly Care, GP surgery working, and Domiciliary visits. She returned to East Cheshire NHS Trust 13 years ago, working in MSK outpatients at Congleton War Memorial Hospital.
Catherine Cliffe – Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Catherine is one of our most experienced physiotherapists, having been qualified for over 30 years. She was awarded an MSc in Neuromusculoskeletal Healthcare in 2001.
Katie Bowers – Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Katie qualified as a physiotherapist from Birmingham in 1991. She has worked for East Cheshire Trust since 2002, based at Congleton War Memorial Hospital.
Kieran Waller – Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Kieran graduated from Keele University in 2017. After starting his career in private sports physio, he then moved to East Cheshire Trust and has been with the team for 3 years. He has a special interest in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. He is based at both MDGH and Handforth Clinic.
Emma Bowling – Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Pelvic Health
Emma qualified in Physiotherapy at Sheffield Hallam University in 2007. She studied a part-time degree course, whilst simultaneously working as a physiotherapy assistant, and began working at Macclesfield Hospital in 2008.
She always had a special interest in Pelvic Health physiotherapy, and chose to complete her elective placement in this area whilst at university, and has gone on to develop her career in this specialist field becoming a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Pelvic health in 2014. Emma enjoys helping patients with anything from pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain and postnatal rehab to helping to improve pelvic floor dysfunctions such as prolapse and continence issues.
Outside of work, she is the mum of 2 young children who keep her very busy. When she has free time she likes to get outdoors – walk, cycle, climb and try her hand at skateboarding.
Chrissie Raynham-Wild – Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Chrissie has worked in the NHS for over 10 years and specialises in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. She is currently undertaking Master's modules in Advanced Physiotherapy at Manchester Metropolitan University and her specialist interests include post-natal exercise, chronic musculoskeletal pain management, sports rehabilitation, strength training, and breast cancer post-operative rehabilitation. She is based at the Poynton clinic.
Judy Dawkins – Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Judy graduated from the University of Manchester in 1998. She gained a wealth of experience at Salford Royal Hospitals and The Alexandra Hospital, before coming to work at Poynton clinic. Judy has a special interest in Orthopaedic medicine, completing her certificate in Orthopaedic & Manual therapy at Curtin University in Western Australia. She has a special interest in the rehabilitation of patients after joint replacement surgery.
Judy lives in Poynton with her young family. She is a keen runner and tennis player and is involved in the running of Poynton Sports Club. She strongly believes in injury prevention and is passionate about promoting exercise for all age groups locally. Judy is based at Poynton clinic.
Lynda Eveson – Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Helen Lomas – Clinical Specialist Rheumatology Physiotherapist
Karen Belfield – Advanced Clinical Specialist Neuro Physiotherapist
Karen qualified as a physiotherapist in 1999 and specialised within the field of Neuro-Physiotherapy in 2001. Initially, this was in a stroke rehabilitation setting before working within her current role in Neuro-Outpatients. Karen has completed numerous post-graduate courses including the 3 week Basic Bobath course, the Advanced Bobath course, and the PD Warrior course.
Karen enjoys treating people with complex Neurological Disorders and has a special interest in treating people with Parkinson's Disease. She is based at Macclesfield District General Hospital.
Sue Starling – Clinical Specialist Neuro Physiotherapist
Sue qualified as a physiotherapist from the University of Keele in 2004 and has worked at East Cheshire NHS Trust since 2001. She has a special interest in Neurology. She is part of the Neuro-Physiotherapy Outpatients Team based at MDGH and is currently working with The HEE-funded Enabling Effective Learning environments (EELE) programme (which is a project to draft the Cheshire and Merseyside Student Placement strategy for AHPs, Nursing, and Midwifery). Outside of work, she enjoys swimming, football, and arts/craft.
At East Cheshire NHS Trust, we are passionate about teaching and helping form the next generation of knowledgeable and caring therapists. You may be seen by a junior physiotherapist or student. Our rotational physiotherapists typically move around each physiotherapy specialty every 6 months, gaining a wealth of knowledge and skills from each specialist area such as respiratory, neurology, orthopaedics, and outpatients. Our students are closely supervised with regular training and learning opportunities given to them throughout their placement with us. We regularly take physiotherapy students from Salford University and Manchester Metropolitan University.
Joann Albiston - Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Anna Korta - Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Elliott Morris - Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Clare Cotton - Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
Christine Jackson - Clinical Specialist Hands Therapist
Sara Parsons - Clinical Specialist Hands Therapist
Jonathan Sutton - Clinical Specialist Neuro Physiotherapist
Gemma Jackson - Rheumatology Occupational Therapist
Harry Taylor - Clinical Specialist MSK Physiotherapist
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