Nurse Specialists
The nurse specialists are based at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, also provide specialist nurse-led clinics and outreach clinics across the region.
Adult CHD Nurse Specialists
Lorna Carruthers
Lorna Carruthers
Lorna Carruthers
Lorna is the lead nurse for the adult congenital service based at the Freeman hospital. She works alongside Sam and Deb to support adults and their families throughout their congenital heart disease journey's.
Samantha McLaren
Lorna Carruthers
Lorna Carruthers
Sam is the newest member of the adult congenital team, she works alongside Lorna & Deb to support adults and their families throughout their congenial heart disease journeys.
Deb McParlin
Lorna Carruthers
Deb McParlin
Deb is the Fontan nurse specialist based at the Freeman Hospital currently supported by CHUF, the first position of its kind in the UK. Deb works with children, adults and their families ensuring regular heart and liver investigations are performed.
Children's Cardiac Nurse Specialists
Debbie Lawson
Debbie Lawson
Debbie Lawson
Debbie is the lead children's cardiac nurse specialist. Together with Debs and Jacqui she supports families from antenatal diagnosis through surgery and lifestyle support to transition into adult services.
Jacqui Laydon
Debbie Lawson
Debbie Lawson
Jacqui is a nutrition nurse specialist supporting patients and families with early intervention and monitoring. She provides support, advice and education on nutrition and living with CHD.
Claire McGraith
Debbie Lawson
Debs Richardson
Claire is currently children’s ventricular Assist Device (VAD) and Heart Failure Nurse Specialist. Being a specialist in this area, she is able to prepare families for this demanding therapy, giving education and emotional support. Claire co-ordinates the many aspects of inpatient care, and where possible prepare the family and co-ordinate the discharge of children on mobile devices. The role had a large scope of autonomy in making decisions and acting as an advocate for patients and their families.
Debs Richardson
Debs Richardson
Debs Richardson
Debs is a children's cardiac nurse specialist who has been funded by CHUF to lead complex discharges of children with a congenital heart condition.
Vicki Russell
Debs Richardson
Vicki Russell
Vicki has joined the cardiac nurse specialist team from ward 23 at the Freeman Hospital and is leading on transition. Vicki is trained to help young people with a congenital heart condition, and their families, as they move to adult services.
Transplant Nurse Specialists
Cat Drake
Terry Hewitt
Julie Flett
Cat has a background in Paediatric Intensive Care and works as a valued team member providing support, education and advice to patients, carers and other professionals
Julie Flett
Terry Hewitt
Julie Flett
Julie is the longest serving Transplant Team member and now takes a lead in service development
Terry Hewitt
Terry Hewitt
Antonia Philip
Terry is the lead Transplant Nurse Specialist with many years' experience of supporting patients, families and other professionals through their transplant journey and on into adult services
Antonia Philip
Antonia Philip
Antonia Philip
Antonia has a background in Paediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care before she joined the Transplant Team. Antonia takes a lead role in supporting children who have undergone heart or lung transplantation to achieve their potential and manage their health needs
Natalie Wilson
Antonia Philip
Natalie Wilson
Natalie is the newest member of the team having joined from Paediatric Intensive Care and supports the work of the Specialist Nurse Team.
Photo Gallery
