Meet the Team

Doctors

Dr Vanaja Santosh

Doctor

MBBS DFSRH Loc SDI

Female
I qualified in 1997 in India and live with my husband and twin children and 2 bunnies In Norwich.
I have special interest in women’s health, research and family planning clinics ( coil and implants).
I enjoy music, yoga and running.

Dr Tissa Weeratunge

Doctor

MBChB, MRCGP

Male
I am originally from London, attended Sheffield Medical School and completed my GP training in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. I moved to Norfolk in 2019 to be nearer to family and after working locally for a few years, joined Orchard Surgery in January 2023, and have really enjoyed being part of our growing team.
I have particular interests in musculoskeletal medicine, mental heath, men’s health, diabetes and more recently in respiratory medicine. 

Outside of work I enjoy watching or playing most sports, and spending time in the countryside, on the beach, or at home, with my young family and our array of pets!

Dr Samita Mukhopadhyay

Doctor

MBBS, MRCGP, MA(Med Ed)

Female
I originally qualified in India and worked in Gynaecology and Obstetrics for 5 years. I retrained as a GP in the UK due to the demands of family life; which on the positive side has left me more compassionate to the upheavals in the lives of my patients.

I hold a Masters in medical education and have experience of teaching undergraduate medical students and postgraduate doctors. Therefore I enjoy collaborating with clinicians of differing levels of experience and patients who seek better understanding of their illness.
After 22 years of full time work as a GP, I now work two days at Orchard Surgery and one day at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals as a medical examiner.

The latter role gives me insights into the journeys of my patients when they are admitted to hospital.
To keep myself out of trouble I go birdwatching(as a novice), sing in a community choir(badly) and help run our village cinema.

Dr Lilian Ibe

Doctor

MRCGP

Female
I qualified as a medical doctor in Nigeria and moved to the UK in 2018, bringing over a decade of rich clinical experience and general practice expertise across diverse healthcare settings. My passion for global and public health, led me to pursue a Master’s degree in International Health and Tropical Medicine at the University of Oxford.

Following my studies, I gained valuable hands-on experience working in the emergency department in Kent before embarking on my GP training in Norwich. As a dedicated and well-rounded general practitioner, I pride myself on combining clinical expertise with a deeply empathetic approach to patient care.

Beyond medicine, I have a zest for life and adventure. I’m an avid traveller, always eager to immerse myself in exploring new cultures and experiences. I also have a passion for interior design, love hosting gatherings, and cherish quality time with friends and family.

Dr Abdel Elsebiey

Doctor

Male

Our GP and ANP Team forms the core of the clinical care we provide at Orchard Surgery. They are highly trained doctors who provide expert medical advice, diagnose and manage a wide range of health conditions, and work closely with all our clinical teams to ensure you receive safe, personalised, and effective care.

Our GPs take the time to listen, understand your concerns, and support you in making informed decisions about your health. Whether you need help with a new problem, ongoing condition, or general wellbeing, they are here to guide you every step of the way.

What Our GPs Do

  • Assess and diagnose health concerns, from minor illnesses to complex conditions
  • Provide ongoing care for long‑term conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease
  • Review and manage treatment plans, including medications and referrals
  • Offer preventative care, such as health advice, screening, and lifestyle support
  • Coordinate your care with hospitals, specialists, and community services
  • Triage everyone’s needs and ensures you receive timely, appropriate care

Why Their Role Matters

Our GPs bring medical expertise, continuity, and compassionate care to every patient interaction. They work at the heart of the surgery, ensuring your health needs are understood, prioritised, and managed with professionalism and kindness.

Nursing Team

Nursing Practitioners

Jen Reilly 

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

I have worked in general practice for the last ten years currently completing a masters in advanced practice, prior to this I have worked in various accident and emergency departments. I am trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose disease, formulate and prescribe medications and treatment plans.

I enjoy all aspects of my job and in my spare time I enjoy reading and spending time with my family.

Rachel Clegg

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

I have been working in Primary Care for more than 10years as a Nurse practitioner. I completed my Master’s  qualification in Advanced Practice in 2022. Prior to working in Primary care I was a Dermatologist Specialist nurse for  9 years at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital.

I enjoy the good life and can be found in my vegetable patch, looking after my bees or pickling and preserving  my home grown produce in my kitchen. 

Hannah Farrier-Dutton

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Practice Nurses

 Lucy Bardwell

Nurse Lead

Hi, I’m Lucy, the Lead Practice Nurse at the surgery. I have over 20 years of varied experience in both acute and primary care settings. I specialise in Respiratory and have a respiratory qualification, I have also gained valuable experience Nursing in Australia for a year—mainly for the experience… and the sunshine!
I’m passionate about delivering high-quality, patient-centred care, with a calm approach and a good sense of humour when it’s needed most.
Outside of work, I am a busy, proud mum and wife, usually found spending time with family and friends outdoors.

Rebecca Bennett

Nurse

Anna Craven-Romain

Nurse

I am a registered nurse with extensive experience in dermatology. After leaving acute care last year, I transitioned into primary care, where I continue to apply my clinical expertise while developing a broad range of new skills.
I am particularly passionate about patient education and health promotion, and I enjoy engaging with individuals to support their understanding of health and wellbeing.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time in my garden, always with a hat and SPF on!

Our Nursing Team is at the heart of patient care at Orchard Surgery. They are highly skilled, compassionate professionals who support you through many of your routine health checks, long‑term condition reviews, and day‑to‑day clinical needs.

Working closely with our GPs, pharmacists, and wider practice team, they provide hands‑on care, health monitoring, and essential clinical support to help keep you well and informed.

What Our Nurses, Nursing Associates & HCAs Do

  • Carry out physical health checks, including blood pressure, blood tests, ECGs, and routine monitoring
  • Support long‑term condition management, such as asthma, diabetes, and COPD reviews
  • Provide vaccinations and immunisations, including flu and childhood vaccines
  • Offer wound care, dressings, and removal of stitches
  • Assist with health advice and lifestyle support, helping you understand and manage your wellbeing
  • Work closely with the medication team, ensuring test results and clinical information are up to date

Why Their Role Matters

Our nurses and HCAs are often the people you’ll see most regularly. Their expertise, kindness, and attention to detail ensure you receive safe, thorough, and personalised care at every stage of your health journey.

Clinical Team

Nursing Associates

Tracy Parker

Nursing Associate

As a dedicated and experienced Nursing Associate at Orchard Surgery, I bring nearly a decade of service within a busy surgery. My career has progressed from reception to more recently Nursing Associate in the past two years, reflecting my commitment to continuous development and a genuine passion for improving patient outcomes. I am known for my reliability, attention to detail. In my own time I like to enjoy the outdoors and experiences with my loved ones.

Healthcare Assistants

Tamara Levin

Healthcare Assistant

Prior to joining Orchard surgery, I worked as personal carer where I found my calling of helping my patients in need which then led me to primary care in 2018. I am trained in phlebotomy, NHS health checks, ECGs, BPs, wound management, immunisations such as B12, pneumonia and shingles, and also do the long-term conditions reviews. Outside of work, I spend my time with family and friends.

Nic Taylor

Healthcare Assistant

Rebekah Melton

Healthcare Assistant

I am a Healthcare Assistant at Orchard Surgery, with 18 years of experience supporting both patients and the clinical team. My role includes carrying out blood tests, ECGs, wound care, and health checks, and I take pride in helping patients feel comfortable and well cared for. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family.

Pharmacy Team

Clinical Pharmacists

Jacynta Gascoigne

Clinical Pharmacist

I qualified as a pharmacist from King’s College London in 2007 and have called the UK home ever since. Originally from Malaysia, I’ve always had a love of good food and a natural curiosity about people, cultures, and experiences.
These qualities have shaped both my personal and professional life, and I bring this perspective into my work alongside a calm, practical approach to managing complex demands.
Speaking five languages allows me to connect easily with people from a wide range of backgrounds and build genuine, lasting relationships—something I value both in and out of the workplace.
Outside of work, life mostly revolves around my young daughter. We share a love of travelling and discovering new places to eat and often find ourselves planning our next food adventure together, usually all at once.

Sri Kolukulapalli

Clinical Pharmacist

Originally qualified in India in 2001, I began my career with multinational pharmaceutical companies before moving to the UK, where I have built extensive experience across community pharmacy and general practice as a clinical pharmacist.
I am passionate about continuous professional development. Having completed the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway, I am now in the final stages of my Independent Prescribing qualification — a milestone that will further support the care I provide to patients. I am also a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
Outside of work, I enjoy playing and watching cricket, reading, and cooking for friends and family.

Pharmacy Technicians

Rebecca Chapman

Pharmacy Technician

I’m a dedicated Pharmacy Technician with nearly four years of experience working across both hospital and GP practice settings, where I’ve developed a strong foundation in patient care, medicines management, and collaborative healthcare support. Outside of work, I’m a big dog lover—especially of my sausage dog, who definitely keeps life entertaining and ensures there’s never a dull moment!

Louise Everett

Pharmacy Technician

I’m a dedicated Pharmacy Technician with a varied healthcare background, having started my career at Orchard Surgery as a receptionist after leaving school. I later moved into clinical coding before transitioning into pharmacy around 15 years ago. I worked my way up to Accuracy Checking Technician (ACT)/Team leader within a dispensing practice and community pharmacy, building a strong foundation in medicines management and patient care. I then spent four years in a management role, developing my leadership and organisational skills, before returning to Orchard Surgery in my current role as a Practice Pharmacy Technician—bringing my career full circle and allowing me to continue supporting patient care within a familiar practice and multidisciplinary team.
Outside of work, I keep busy with my two horses and a dog, who certainly make sure life is never quiet and always full of activity.

Admin Staff

Practice Managers

Kathryn Hensby

Practice Manager

I’ve been part of the practice for 23 years, starting my career here as a receptionist and growing into my current role as Practice Manager alongside Josephine Cook. Nearly a year into the position, I still feel genuinely proud to work alongside such a dedicated and supportive team. This practice has been a big part of my life, and I love contributing to the care and community we provide every day.
Outside of work, I enjoy playing netball, getting lost in a good book, and spending quality time with my family.

Josephine Cook

Practice Manager

My healthcare career began at 19, working behind the counter in a pharmacy. I always knew I wanted a role where I could keep learning while supporting people in a meaningful way.
A few years went by and before I knew it, I had qualified as a pharmacy technician and was running a couple pharmacies in Norwich. I loved the variety of the work and the daily interaction with patients, knowing I could help make a difference.
At the end of 2020, I moved into primary care and haven’t looked back. I joined Mid Norfolk as one of two PCN pharmacy technicians before progressing to Quality Improvements Manager at Orchard Surgery during its CQC turnaround. I am now one of two practice managers, helping to lead and support our amazing team and ensure patients receive the best possible care.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and love to host a good games night!

Caroline O’Donnell

Practice Assistant

Clio Hickling-Barrett

GP Liaison

Our Practice Managers plays a vital role in keeping Orchard Surgery running smoothly. They oversee the day to day operations of the practice, ensuring that patients receive safe, efficient, and high quality care from the moment they contact us to the moment they leave the building.

Working closely with all teams—clinical and administrative—they help coordinate services, support staff, and make sure the surgery meets NHS standards and patient expectations. Their work often happens behind the scenes, but it has a direct and positive impact on every patient’s experience.

Why Their Role Matters

The Practice Manager is the organisational brain of Orchard Surgery. Their leadership, problem solving, and commitment to high standards help create a well run, supportive environment where both patients and staff can thrive.

Administration

Bev Mackney

Admin Lead and Secretary

Diane

General Practice Assistant

Holly

General Practice Assistant

Jacqui

Coder

Jacquie

Medical Administrator

Karen

Medical Reports and Secretary

Kim

Secretary

Kama-Louise

GPA/Receptionist

Our upstairs team is made up of several highly skilled administrative staff who work behind the scenes to keep Orchard Surgery running smoothly. Although you may not always meet them face‑to‑face, their work is essential to ensuring your care is well‑coordinated, accurate, and efficient.

Our secretaries handle important communication between the surgery, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. They manage referrals, specialist letters, and clinical correspondence to make sure your care pathway is clear and up to date.
This team manages requests for medical reports, insurance forms, and other official documents. They ensure everything is completed accurately and processed within the correct timeframes.
Our coders carefully review clinical notes and hospital letters to ensure your medical records are coded correctly. Accurate coding helps your GP understand your health history and ensures you receive the right care and follow‑up.
This team looks after new patient registrations, changes of address, and updates to your personal details. They make sure your information is correct so that appointments, prescriptions, and referrals all run smoothly.
This team manages our recall and invites system, to ensure that you are being correctly monitored, called in, and coded correctly. This includes long-term conditions, shared drug monitoring, repeat tests and much, much more. They take particular care with some of our vulnerable patients, ensuring all of our Learning disabilities and Dementia patients are all monitored and offered an annual review with the surgery.
The Prescription Team plays a key part in keeping you well. By carefully reviewing your medicines and listening to your experiences, they help you get the best possible benefit from your treatment while reducing risks and improving your overall health journey. They also issue and re-authorise all of your prescriptions, as well as deal with any queries about your medication that you might have.

Why Everyone’s Role Matters

All our administrators are the backbone of the surgery. Their attention to detail and behind‑the‑scenes coordination allow doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other clinicians to focus fully on providing high‑quality patient care.

Pharmacy Admin

Kirsty

Prescription Clerk

Michelle

Prescription Clerk and Coder

Care Navigators

Vanessa Whitwood

Reception Lead

Belinda

Care Navigator

Isla

Care Navigator

Janine

Care Navigator

Nicky

Care Navigator

Rebecca

Care Navigator

Jacqui

Care Navigator

Darcy

Care Navigator

Our Reception Team is the friendly first point of contact for patients at Orchard Surgery. Whether you visit in person or call the practice, they are here to guide you, support you, and help you get to the right place as quickly and smoothly as possible.

They handle a wide range of important tasks every day, including, but not exclusive to, booking appointments, answering queries, signposting you to the most appropriate clinician, and helping you navigate our services. Their role is fast‑paced and highly skilled, requiring excellent communication, problem‑solving, and a deep understanding of how the surgery works.

Why Their Role Matters

The Reception Team is the face of the surgery. Their knowledge, organisation, and warm approach help ensure every patient has a positive and efficient experience from the moment they get in touch.

PCN Staff

Ellie

Care Co-ordinator

Additional Staff

Health and Wellbeing Coaches

Social Prescribers

Physios

Community Midwives

Community midwives work with the surgery to care for mothers before and after delivery. They run clinics at Dereham Hospital.

Community Nurses

We have a district nursing team who work with the surgery to care for our housebound patients. They are all experienced and well qualified to assess the immediate and long term need of patients and their families in the community.

Health Visitors

A health visitor is a registered nurse who has received training particularly related to babies, children and pregnant women. Their role is to provide families with children under five years old with support and advice around general aspects of physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Health visitors can be contacted on 0300 300 0123.