The Leeds LMC Team

The Officers

TREASURER - DR NICOLA HAMBRIDGE                                                                        

Nicola graduated from Leeds University in 1996, worked in Bradford and Airedale then joined Leeds VTS, qualifying as a GP in 2000. She worked as a locum and salaried GP in Leeds and Bradford for 18 months, then spent 2002 working in General Practice in Australia. In 2003 she was appointed a partner at Robin Lane Practice in Pudsey, where she has worked since, moving to a salaried post in 2010.

Alongside her clinical work Nicola teaches undergraduate medical students both in the practice and in the University.

Nicola has been active committee member for a number of years and in April 2015, she was elected to serve as an Officer. Having worked as a locum and as a partner, and now a salaried GP, she is keen to utilise her experiences to represent and work on behalf of all GPs in Leeds.

Outside work Nicola enjoys gardening very amateurly, wild swims, is a Trustee of Left Bank Leeds and volunteer director of Leeds Tidal and Keep Streets Live campaign, and is involved in organising a number of arts and music events in Leeds and nationally.

 

 

CHAIR - DR SARAH MCSORLEY 

Sarah has worked as a Salaried GP in practices in Harrogate, Bradford and Leeds and is currently a locum GP in Leeds.

She has been an active member of Leeds LMC since 2016, representing salaried and locum GPs and continues to link the LMC with Leeds sessional GP education forum (LSGPEF).

In her spare time she values time spent with her GP husband, 3 young daughters, extended family and friends, as well as walking and travel.

 

 

 

 

ASSISTANT MEDICAL SECRETARY - DR RAJ SATHIYASEELAN

Raj graduated from Leeds University in 1998 and subsequently spent 6 years in hospital medicine, predominately in Leeds. In 2004, he joined the Harrogate VTS and following completion of training in 2006, joined his current practice as a partner. He was elected to the LMC in 2007 and has been Medical Secretary from 2009.

 

 

 

 

MEDICAL SECRETARY (JOB SHARE) - DR LUCY CLEMENT (AND DR GWYN ELIAS)

Lucy attended medical school at Liverpool University and graduated in 2002 after intercalating in Pharmacology. She spent 3 years working as a Paediatric specialist trainee before deciding to switch careers to General Practice in 2007. She joined the Airedale VTS training scheme and eventually qualified as a GP in 2012 after two maternity leave periods and an extremely long ST3 year! Lucy started her work as a GP in the Bradford area, but moved to Oakwood Lane Medical Practice in 2015 for a far better commuting distance from her home in Roundhay, Leeds.

Lucy joined the Leeds LMC committee in 2018 and became Liaison Officer in April 2021. She is involved in a variety of projects to improve the primary-secondary care interface in Leeds and believes in building relationships across teams to better understand common values and needs. As a neurodiverse doctor herself, Lucy especially understands the need for efficient workflow processes and clarity of information sharing, and she is passionate to try and improve the NHS workplace for everyone in Leeds.

Lucy lives in Roundhay with her husband, two children and crazy dog Archie. She loves walking and being outdoors, laughing and chatting with friends and family, and continues to try and tackle the general chaos of life!

MEDICAL SECRETARY (JOB SHARE) - DR GWYN ELIAS (AND DR LUCY CLEMENT) 

I feel privileged to work as a GP, where I can combine the art of the consultation with the science and practice of medicine. I have worked as a principal and in locum and salaried GP roles since qualifying from the Leeds GP training scheme.

Twelve years ago, the desire to make a difference motivated me to take up roles in clinical leadership, alongside working as a GP in practice. 

I have held a citywide role at Leeds local medical committee since 2011. 

I have also worked in clinical leadership positions in the wider health system for eight years, including NHS Clinical leadership roles at regional, integrated care board and place-based levels. 

Using my coaching and mentoring qualification, quality improvement and leadership training I have worked on projects in person-centred care, personalised care, mental health and children’s asthma in Leeds, at West Yorkshire level and, also in the North-East and Yorkshire region. 

More recently I have been elected as chair of the Yorkshire Faculty of the RCGP.

In these ever-changing and uncertain times, my focus will be on our profession and what we need to thrive, not just survive.

 

VICE CHAIR - DR JOANNA NEWELL

Jo qualified from Cambridge University in 1996 and worked in East Anglia and Manchester before moving to Leeds in 1999 to join the GP VTS. She completed GP training in 2002 and then worked for Leeds PCT helping to establish and lead the Health Access Team for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Leeds. She also took time out to spend a year working as a Medical Officer at a hospital in rural Zambia. She joined Bellbrooke Surgery in Harehills as a salaried GP in 2010, becoming a partner in 2012.  She has been a member of Leeds LMC since 2022 and Vice Chair since 2024.  She lives in Otley and enjoys gardening, walking, running, yoga and family.

 

VICE CHAIR - DR MELISSA TASOU

I have been in Leeds since 1995 - when I started Medical school finishing Leeds VTS in 2006 to qualify as a GP.  I am a partner at Allerton and Westfield Medical Centre, Chapletown PCN. 

I have been a GP in Leeds for 19 years – having worked in various roles throughout the city as a locum,  salaried and currently as a partner.  I have a good understanding how different practice operate, their populations and how the current challenges.   I am a trainer and passionate about the NHS and primary care. I want to stand up for patients, grass route GPs and their teams who do an amazing job of keeping the NHS afloat. 

I joined the LMC as a rep in 2020 and as an officer 2024 - I have 3 children which keep me busy along with my horse and dog. 

 

Jodie McNeil and Colette Young-Breeze – Joint Executive Officer 

Jodie and Colette work closely with the Leeds LMC Officers to plan agendas, produce meeting papers and follow up for regular liaison meetings. The LMC key stakeholders include NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, Leeds GP Confederation, the LMC Committee, Local Authorities and of course all GPs practicing in the Leeds area and their teams.

Jodie and Colette are responsible for maintaining the smooth running of business operations and managing the day to day running of the LMC Offices, LMC social media platforms and the LMC website. Jodie supports the GP Mentorship Plus workstream which includes mentoring services and wellbeing courses & events. Colette leads on elections (including Officers, LMC Committee members and adhoc PCN elections).

Jodie has two children who keep her busy with various sporting and social activities. She enjoys running, cooking and experimenting with interior design.

Colette has two children, one in high school and one in primary school. She is also a fitness instructor and provides fitness classes such as Studio Cycling and Bootcamps on the days she does not work for LMC. Colette also loves a bit of gardening and is learning along the way.