Karen Smyth – Nurse Manager

RGN (1986) Bsc Nursing Practice.

Karen joined the team in 2013 and now manages the nursing and health care assistant teams. She is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Independent Prescriber with special interest in Respiratory.

Advanced Nurse Practitioners

Vicki Maarman

Vicki has worked at Whaddon Healthcare since 2018. She is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and an independent prescriber. Vicki’s role is varied but currently her main focus is Home Oxygen due to her nursing background is respiratory.

Ruth Thomas

Ruth qualified as an RGN in 1993 from Charing Cross Hospital, and after completing numerous modules achieved BSC (hons) in Nursing Practice, several masters modules in breathing techniques and is an independent nurse prescriber. She has been a community-based respiratory nurse specialist for 18 years and is now based at Whaddon Medical Centre involved in delivering home oxygen assessment, community respiratory clinic (AIRS) and post-covid assessment clinic.

Practice Nurses

Lynda Hewitson

Lynda qualified as a registered general nurse in 1985. She began her practice nurse career in 1998. Lynda joined Whaddon Healthcare in 2018. Her main specialities are family planning, including coil and implant fitting. Lynda also specialises in Diabetes management, initiating insulin.

Ria Gumus

Ria Gumus BSc (Hons) Registered Nurse, successfully qualified in Adult Nursing in April 2020 and has enjoyed the two years since learning new skills within District Nursing. She has a keen interest in woundcare and Diabetes management. Ria is the newest member of the Nursing Team in Whaddon Medical Centre having joined in June 2022 and is thoroughly enjoying running her clinics. She will be undertaking Practice Nurse courses throughout the year to further her skillset.

Martha Cove

Martha qualified as a registered nurse in 2018. She worked in Acute Medicine and A&E for the first 2 years of being qualified. She joined Whaddon Healthcare in June 2022 and is currently undertaking her General Practice Nurse course to further her skill set.

Katie Young

Niamh Cahill

Niamh qualified as a Registered Nurse in 2017 with a BSc (Hons) from the University of Bedfordshire. After working in ICU and Offender Care settings she made my way into Primary Care. Niamh is an independent non-medical prescriber and has a particular passion for long term respiratory conditions. Niamh has a personal interest in women’s health equality and contraception. She is an avid book reader and is always accepting book recommendations!

Maxine Jackaman

Maxine has been a nurse for 47 years, working in the community as a district nurse, long term conditions and also worked as a community support nurse. Maxine has worked as manager in a Care Home for old and frail patients. Maxine joined Whaddon Healthcare as part of the Covid Vaccination programme and now supports the Home Oxygen team.

Charlotte Miles

Heart Failure Nurses

Sue Bryden

RGN

Sue qualified as a registered nurse in 1989 and has over 30 years cardiology nursing experience, including Cardio-thoracic intensive care and being the Senior Sister of the Coronary Care Unit at Milton Keynes university hospital for 12 years. She has completed her ENB 249 Cardio-thoracic nursing course, ENB 998- Teaching and Assessing course and Post Graduate Certificate in Health services Management. Sue has currently been in the role of Community Heart Failure nurse since January 2020 and successfully completed her Master’s Module in Chronic heart failure.

Emma Reid

DipHE Registered Adult Nursing

Emma qualified as a registered Nurse at the University of Hertfordshire in 2011, before beginning her career as a Staff Nurse on the Cardiology Ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Following this, she worked as a Practice Nurse in Buckingham, and completed her Post Graduate Certificate in General Practice in 2017. Emma has worked for Whaddon Healthcare as a Community Heart Failure Nurse since December 2020, and enjoys combining her community skills and experience with her love for Cardiology.