
Liver Team
We are a multidisciplinary team made up of a range of dedicated specialists. To meet our team please click on the sections below.
Consultant Hepatologists
Our dedicated consultant team deliver general hepatology outpatient services in addition to tertiary services such as assessment and management of primary liver cancer and liver transplantation. On a rotational basis, our consultant team provide inpatient care and acute emergency gastroenterology on-call services at both Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital campuses.
Dr Emilie WilkesDr Wilkes completed her undergraduate training at St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London Hospitals in 1998. Her post-graduate training includes sub-speciality accreditation in hepatology following completion of an advanced hepatology fellowship in transplant hepatology at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge. Dr Wilkes is the hepatology lead for transition from child services, working with the East Midlands Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre, and oversees the nurse-led genetic haemochromatosis service.
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Dr Peter EddowesDr Eddowes graduated from the University of Birmingham Medical School in 2005. In 2013 he took time out of clinical training to study for an MD, at the University of Birmingham. His thesis looked at techniques for the non-invasive assessment of chronic liver disease and he continues a research interest in this field. On returning to clinical training he completed a fellowship in transplant hepatology at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. Dr Eddowes has a particular interest in the non-invasive evaluation of chronic liver disease, autoimmune liver disease and portal hypertension. He provides outreach clinics at King’s Mill and Newark hospitals as well as Nottingham University Hospitals.
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Professor Stephen RyderProf. Ryder graduated from the University of Nottingham Medical School and trained in hepatology at St Mary’s Hospital and Kings College Hospital, London. Prof. Ryder is the Nottingham University Hospitals lead for reducing alcohol related harm. He runs the viral liver disease service and is lead clinician for the Hepatitis C NHS England Operational Delivery Network He is the Director of Research and Innovation at Nottingham University Hospitals. His major clinical and research interest is hepatitis C infection and large clinical trials in hepatology. He was recognised as one of the leading recruiters to commercial clinical trials in the “NIHR at 10” awards. Prof. Ryder was the national lead for the Hepatology Clinical Research Network (CRN) until 2015 and is now the Co-Director of the East Midlands CRN He was hepatology Vice President of the British Society of Gastroenterology between 2012-2015.
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Dr Martin JamesDr James has been a consultant hepatologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust since 2008. After postgraduate training in South Africa, he completed an MRC Clinical Research Fellowship PhD and undertook sub-specialty training in transplant hepatology & ERCP at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. He helped develop the joint Nottingham-Cambridge transplant hepatology service and interventional EUS/ERCP biliary endoscopy fellowships in Nottingham. He is co-director of the Nottingham Endoscopy Masterclass and delivers regional & national hepatopancreatobiliary endoscopy training programmes. After 4 years as clinical lead for hepatology and gastroenterology, he is now hepatopancreatobiliary endoscopy lead in Nottingham and is one of the clinical investigators in the National Institute of Health Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR BRC) at Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre. |
Dr Aloysious D AravinthanDr Aravinthan is an associate professor and honorary consultant in hepatology. He completed his postgraduate training in hepatology at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK and Toronto General Hospital and University of Toronto, Canada. His doctoral thesis, awarded by the University of Cambridge, focused on the role of hepatocyte senescence in the progression of chronic liver disease. He was awarded the prestigious Sheila Sherlock Research Award by the British Association for the Study of the Liver in 2014 and the Sheila Sherlock Travelling Fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians in 2015. His research continues to focus on the prognostic and therapeutic role of cellular senescence in liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and outcomes following liver transplantation. Dr Aravinthan is the clinical lead for the Nottingham Primary Liver Cancer (HCC) service. |
Professor Guruprasad P. AithalProf. Aithal graduated with MBBS from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and an MD in Internal Medicine from Bangalore Medical College, Bengaluru, India. He completed his specialist training in gastroenterology with the northern deanery, UK. He achieved PhD from the University of Newcastle and was an International Fellow at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA. He holds the position of President of the British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL). He is professor of hepatology as well as Deputy Director and Gastrointestinal & Liver Disorder Theme Lead for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham. Prof. Aithal is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2019) and is an invited faculty member for post-graduate courses in Europe, USA, Asia and Africa. He has also been a member of the Gastroenterology Specialty Certificate Examination Board responsible for standard-setting in gastroenterology since its inception in 2007. His research interests include drug-induced liver injury (DILI), metabolic liver diseases and both endoscopic and magnetic resonance technology in the evaluation of liver and biliary disorders. |
Professor Neil GuhaNeil Guha is a professor in hepatology based at the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre. His research focus is on biomarkers of liver fibrosis and experimental diagnostics including novel MRI imaging. An important area of his work is the application of diagnostic tests in chronic liver disease to develop clinical practice. |
Dr Suresh VenkatachalapathyDr Venkatachalapathy completed his undergraduate training in India in 2002. He undertook postgraduate training in gastroenterology and hepatology at King’s College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He has completed a sub-speciality fellowship in hepatopancreatobiliary endoscopy. He is the governance lead for hepatology and endoscopy and the regional lead for the hepatopancreatobiliary multidisciplinary team meeting. He also oversees the pancreatic cyst clinic. His research interests include therapeutic hepatopancreatobiliary endoscopy. |
Dr Naaventhan PalaniyappanDr Naaventhan Palaniyappan is a Clinical Associate Professor and Honorary Consultant Hepatologist. He completed his postgraduate training in Hepatology and General Internal Medicine in Nottingham. His research focus is on cirrhosis and its related complications. An important area of his work is using non-invasive imaging including novel MRI technology to evaluate patients with advanced liver disease. |
Dr Prarthana ThiagarajanDr Thiagarajan graduated from Guys, Kings and St Thomas’ school of medicine in 2010. After this, she undertook postgraduate training in general internal medicine, gastroenterology and hepatology in the East Midlands. Dr Thiagarajan received a PhD from the University of Nottingham in 2021, with a research focus on precision imaging and dietary intervention in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). She spent the final year of her training at the Birmingham Liver Unit, completing an advanced fellowship in transplant hepatology in August 2022. Her specialist interests include metabolic liver disease, portal hypertension and endohepatology. |
Liver Specialist Nursing Team
Our dedicated specialist nursing team provide a monitoring service for people with stable liver cirrhosis of a variety of causes. They co-ordinate our pre and post-liver transplant care service, provide monitoring of autoimmune liver conditions as well as supporting our liver cancer pathway. They also deliver other specialist services as outlined within the individual descriptions below.
Maggie Nicholls Maggie completed her BA(Hons) in health studies in 1994 and has gained experience within the hepatology service ever since. She started as a specialist nurse post at the Queens Medical Centre in April 2005. She delivers a nurse-led cirrhosis clinic, neuroendocrine tumours treatment clinic and supports the joint liver transplant clinic. Tel: 0115 924 9924 Ext: 83169 |
Andy Mierkalns Andy qualified in Nottingham and has been in her current role with our team since 2000. Andy has a special interest in patients with neuroendocrine tumours, and has been delivering a nurse-led clinic for over 19 years for those patients receiving specialist treatment. She delivers a nurse-led cirrhosis clinic and supports the joint liver transplant clinic. Andy has a passion for education around liver disease and delivers two types of liver courses – one for registered nurses and another for non-registered staff. The courses are open to staff in Nottingham and from other healthcare providers. Tel: 0115 924 9924 Ext: 83457 |
Karen Bennett Karen qualified in 2001 with a diploma of nursing from the Nottingham University School of Nursing and has worked in our team since. Karen has been deputy ward sister on our ward between 2008–2019 after which she was appointed as a specialist nurse with a primary responsibility in the Hepatocellular Cancer care pathway. She is responsible for coordinating Transarterial Chemoembolisation (TACE) therapy. She also delivers a nurse-led cirrhosis clinic and supports the joint liver transplant clinic. Tel: 0115 924 9924 Ext: 80128 |
Vicki Sugden Vicki qualified in 1989 as an enrolled nurse from Charles Frear School of Nursing in Leicester. She completed the conversion course to become a registered nurse at Ipswich in 1992-1993 and went on to achieve a diploma in nursing in 1997. Vicki started her role in Nottingham as haemochromatosis nurse specialist in 2010. She provides the nurse-led haemochromatosis service including consultations, venesection, monitoring and surveillance. She also delivers a nurse-led cirrhosis clinic. Tel: 0115 969 1169 Ext: 54139 |
Maria Appleyard Maria has over thirty years’ experience working as a nurse with the NHS. She previously worked on our ward for ten years before joining our specialist nursing team in October 2020. She has a particular interest in assessing and managing pancreatic cysts. Tel: 0115 924 9924 Ext: 80128 |
Viral Hepatology Specialist Nursing Team
Our dedicated viral hepatology specialist nursing team provide nurse-led care for patients with viral hepatitis including treatment for hepatitis C and monitoring and treatment for hepatitis B in a variety of settings.
To contact the team please Tel: 0115 924 9924 Ext: 66019
Sherrelle Fanthorpe Sherrelle qualified with a BSc(Hons) in health and social care in Nottingham and has been with our team as a viral hepatology specialist nurse since 2001. She provides viral hepatitis clinics for assessment and treatment of hepatitis C at the Nottingham treatment centre, HMP Ranby and HMP Nottingham as well as a joint clinic with the CGL Nottinghamshire drug recovery organisation. She also assesses, monitors and treats patients diagnosed with hepatitis B. |
Liz Blackwell Liz qualified in 2005 with a diploma in adult nursing followed by a BSc in healthcare studies in Nottingham. Liz has been a virology nurse specialist with our team since 2010. Her clinical time is shared between our hospitals and several outreach locations across Nottinghamshire, including the Mary Potter practice and several clinics held jointly with CGL Nottinghamshire’s drug recovery organisation. Within this role, Liz assesses and begins treatment for those diagnosed with Hepatitis C. She also takes a lead role in our Hepatitis B service. |
Jasmina Khaldi Jasmina qualified as a registered nurse with a BSc in health and social care in Nottingham and has been a viral hepatology specialist nurse with our team since 2009. She provides viral hepatitis clinics for assessment and treatment of hepatitis C at HMP Lowdham Grange and multiple drug and alcohol outreach centres within the Nottingham city area. |
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Paracentesis Team
Our dedicated paracentesis service is delivered by specialist nurses and a support worker who liaise directly with patients to arrange elective paracentesis as required on the Queen’s day case unit at QMC. The paracentesis team use the Florence Telehealth system to monitor patient weight at home and predict when patients may benefit from paracentesis (abdominal drain).
In addition to providing high quality and responsive patient care, the paracentesis team regularly train clinical colleagues to perform paracentesis and provide an outreach service for inpatient paracentesis throughout the hospital.
If you would like to contact the Queen’s day case unit, please Tel: 0115 924 9924 Ext: 61912
Paracentesis Specialist Nurse
Nicola Monahan
Nicola trained in Nottingham and has been a member of our paracentesis nurse specialist team since 2016. She delivers a paracentesis service for patients with liver disease and provides education and support to patients and their carers. Her areas of interest include liver cirrhosis and diabetes.
Helen Garrity
Helen trained in East Anglia and has been a member of our paracentesis nurse specialist team since 2016. She delivers a paracentesis service for patients with liver disease and provides support to patients and their relatives. She has a keen interest in research.
Deborah Simpson
Deborah qualified as a registered nurse from the University of Nottingham in 2002. She has always been fascinated by ambulatory settings and has worked in day surgery and daycase environments since 2005 supplementing this with a course focussing on long-term conditions. She assisted in developing our paracentesis service and is deputy manager of the Queen’s day case unit. She has a keen interest in hepatology and gastroenterology research.
Paracentesis Assistant Practitioner
Beverley Aram
Bev trained in Nottingham as a healthcare assistant and commenced her current role as paracentesis assistant practitioner in 2016. She supports our paracentesis nurse specialists to deliver the day case paracentesis service by triaging patients and arranging bookings for reviews. Her area of interest is liver disease and she educates patients about the Florence Telehealth system.
Alcohol Care Team
Our dedicated alcohol care team provide support and specialist input into the care of patients at risk of alcohol-related harm.
Tim Hardern
Tim started his career as a mental health nurse in Essex before working in the community in East London. He holds a diploma in substance misuse and has worked in the drug and alcohol field for over 25 years. He worked within the Haringey advisory group on alcohol as a community detox nurse then as the alcohol lead in a community drug and alcohol team. He set up the alcohol liaison service in Broomfield hospital in Chelmsford and has been in our team as alcohol liaison since 2013. He assesses inpatient alcohol needs referring on to appropriate community services and runs alcohol care clinics at NUH.
Shuying Wei
Sue qualified as a nurse in 2015 and has worked in a variety of areas including emergency settings and liver research. During her time in liver research she developed an interest in issues relating to alcohol and liver disease which is central to her role in our alcohol care team. To further her passion for reducing health inequalities and promoting equal access to healthcare she is working towards a master’s degree in public health.
Liver Ward Team
Our dedicated ward team oversee Ward F21, which is a 28 bedded mixed ward comprising of 4 bays each with 6 patients, and 4 single side-rooms. The ward specialises in hepatology and gastroenterology caring for patients with conditions such as liver disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal cancers and inflammatory bowel disease.
Contact Ward F21 on Tel: 0115 924 9924 Ext: 69021
Ward Manager
Crue James
Crue began his nursing career on an acute medical ward specialising in rheumatology. He then spent a number of years working on a surgical ward specialising in conditions of the liver, gallbladder and pancreas and was promoted to deputy manager in 2019. Following this he gained experience in the higher dependency unit for a year. Since July 2021 he has been in his current role as manager of our ward.
Ward Deputy Sister
Anne Brooker
Annie trained in Nottingham and started as a staff nurse in 1994. In 2002 she became deputy sister of our liver ward and oversees the general running of the ward. She is responsible for ensuring patient flow and patient safety as well as deputising for the ward manager. She acts as the student nurse link for our ward and has an interest in pressure sore prevention and falls reduction.
Becky Savage
Becky qualified in 2009 from the University of Nottingham and has been deputy sister of our liver ward since 2019. She has worked in hepatology and gastroenterology since qualifying as a nurse and also gained experience in endoscopy whilst working in Essex.
Linda Jamera
Linda started on our ward as a band 5 staff nurse in February 2018 having completed her training at NUH. She began a secondment post as a Band 6 in July 2019 and continues in this role to date. During her time on our ward she had a keen interest in promoting the infection control link nurse role. She is now also involved in health and safety on the ward and continues to support and supervise students during their placement.
Matrons
Our matrons are responsible for the overall clinical, operational, service development and staff management of a number of specialist services. These include gastroenterology and nutrition, colorectal, liver (medical & surgical) and viral hepatitis.
Jo Manogue
Jo has enjoyed a long career in nursing and commenced her post as matron in 2010. She qualified in 1983 and worked for 27 years in a number of critical care settings – predominantly cardiothoracic intensive care.
Jo also spent 4 years working in the cardiac transplant and cardiothoracic intensive care unit at a major teaching hospital in America.
Michelle Richardson
Michelle qualified with a Masters of Nursing from the University of Nottingham in 2004. She worked for 15 years within the surgery division at NUH, predominantly within neurosurgery. Michelle was the ward sister of a neuroscience ward for 10 years, before commencing her matron post with us in 2019.
Stacie Russon
Stacie qualified as an adult nurse in 2008 from the University of Sheffield and did her nurse training at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. After qualifying as an adult nurse she worked for 2 years in trauma and orthopaedics at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.
In 2010, Stacie came to work at Nottingham University Hospitals in the emergency department (ED) at the QMC, moving from a nurse, to a deputy sister then to a senior sister over the 8 year period working in ED. From there Stacie worked as the ward sister on the major trauma unit
Stacie is now the Matron for hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB), colorectal and emergency general surgery. Along with these teams Stacie also manages multiple teams of specialist nurses including the virology specialist nurses, the HPB specialist nurses and the alcohol care team.
Stacie has an interest in service development and getting the best pathways and best care of our patients
Liver Specialist Pharmacist
Ed Nicholson
Ed qualified with an MRPharmS, Pharm IP and PG diploma in clinical pharmacy. He commenced his role as a specialist pharmacist within hepatology and the Nottingham hepatitis C ODN in our team in 2018.
He provides specialist pharmacist support and supply of medication to our patients in a variety of settings. He deals with medication prescribing and provides advice to healthcare professionals and patients. He leads our homecare service for liver transplant medication and leads our viral hepatitis treatment service.