Dr Victoria Flower MBBS, BSc, PhD, MRCP (Rheum)

MBBS, Bsc, PhD, MRCP (Rheum)

Dr Flower is a Rheumatology consultant with a specialist interest in connective tissue diseases including Systemic sclerosis and Sjogren’s syndrome.

She completed her medical degree at Imperial College School of Medicine in 2007 and subsequently worked in London before relocating to the southwest of England. She undertook her doctoral research at the University of Bath investigating blood vessel and skin changes in Systemic sclerosis.

Dr Flower was appointed as a consultant Rheumatologist at the RNHRD in November 2020. She leads a specialist service for patients with Systemic sclerosis, providing care for patients who live locally as well as being a tertiary referral centre for patients around the UK. The service benefits from a number of specialised microvascular imaging techniques and extended autoantibody tests that allows for early diagnosis of Scleroderma spectrum disorders. Within the team, our specialist nurses are able to help with conservative strategies for symptom control, medication education and practical advice. Dr Flower works collaboratively with the regional Pulmonary Hypertension service at the RUH to provide patients with combined expertise and a multidisciplinary team approach.

Dr Flower holds a visiting Senior Lecturer position at the University of Bath. She is a member of the international Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium and the UK Scleroderma Study Group. She has published original research and book chapters in the field of Raynaud’s phenomenon and Systemic sclerosis. She has a particular research interest in advancing the clinical use of ultrasound and microvascular imaging techniques to improve the way we assess and manage Rheumatic diseases.
The service actively engages in research to improve the way we treat patients with rare diseases. Dr Flower is keen for patients to have the opportunity to participate in research. She is the Principle investigator for a number of national and international trials at the RNHRD including observational studies and drug trials.

Secretary: Beverley Satchell

01225 821645

beverleysatchell@nhs.net

Dr Ellie Korendowych MA, MBBCh, PhD, FRCP

Dr Korendowych qualified in Natural sciences from Cambridge University before completing her degree in Medicine at Oxford University. She trained in Rheumatology in Bristol and Bath before undertaking her PhD in the Immuno-genetics of Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in Bath and Australia. She was appointed as a Consultant at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath in 2005 and was Clinical Lead for the department from 2007-2019 and medical director of the RNHRD in 2014.

She has a longstanding clinical and research interest in PsA and established one of the country's first dedicated PsA biologics clinics in 2006, which continues to receive referrals from across the UK. Her main interests are in biologic therapy, outcome measures and the genetics of Psoriatic Arthritis.

She has been a member of the PsA European Genetics Consortium, GRAPPA and BRITPACT and has been an expert for the British Society of Rheumatology in NICE technology appraisals in PsA for over 10 years. She is a Principal Investigator for several national and international clinical trials in PsA. Her other main clinical and research interest is in autoimmune connective tissue disorders particularly Lupus.

She leads a specialist Lupus clinic alongside the multi-disciplinary team and together with colleagues is continuing to build a successful research and clinical trials programme in Lupus in Bath. The team at the RNHRD were recently recognised by Lupus UK as a Centre of Excellence for Lupus.

Secretary: Debra Morris

01225 821643

debra.morris3@nhs.net

Dr Sarah Skeoch BSc, MBChB (hons), MSc, PhD, MRCP (Rheum)

Sarah Skeoch joined the team as a consultant rheumatologist in 2018. She completed her rheumatology training in the North West of England, where she undertook a Masters in Clinical Rheumatology, a PhD studying cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis and a Clinical Lectureship in Rheumatology and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Manchester.

Our department is a Lupus UK Centre of Excellence and a Vasculitis Specialist Centre. Sarah leads the vasculitis service and co-leads the lupus service. She oversees a dedicated giant cell arteritis fast track service, which has been highlighted as an area of good practice by British Society for Rheumatology peer review programme.

She manages the department's 'Connective Tissue Diseases (CTD)/Vasculitis' multi-disciplinary team meeting, which in attended by doctors from different medical specialties, specialist nurses, pharmacist and therapists. The MDT oversees the prescription of specialist biologic medications and management of particularly complex cases. She is also part of regional, national and international networks for lupus and vasculitis.

She maintains an active research interest, being involved in both national and international research projects. Her research focuses on outcomes in connective tissue disease, comorbidity in rheumatic diseases and translational imaging.

She is a Visiting Senior Lecturer at the University of Bath and holds an Honorary Clinical Lecturer position at the University of Manchester. She is a member of the British Society for Rheumatology, Royal College of Physicians and the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG). She also sits on the Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases Research Committee.

Secretary: Beverley Satchell

01225 821645

beverleysatchell@nhs.net

Dr Sarah Tansley BSc MBChB PhD MRCP (Rheum)

Dr Sarah Tansley is a Consultant Rheumatologist and Senior Clinical Lecture in Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the University of Bath. She undertook her medical training at the University of Edinburgh and worked in both Scotland and New Zealand before moving to Bath in 2010. She completed her rheumatology training locally, in addition to a PhD at the University of Bath.

Dr Tansley's research focuses on the autoimmune connective tissue diseases, particularly myositis. She is a member of the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies group and the British Society of Rheumatology. She is a co-author of the British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) myositis treatment guidelines, due to be published later in 2021, and lecturers on immunological tests on the BSR core skills in rheumatology course.

Dr Tansley has a clinical interest in the autoimmune connective tissues diseases in addition to young adult and adolescent rheumatology. She established our local fast track Giant Cell Arteritis assessment pathway and also runs an autoimmune connective tissue diseases clinic and the young adult rheumatology clinic.

Dr Tansley runs our dedicated transition clinic alongside paediatric rheumatology specialist Dr Valerie Rogers. Together they review paediatric rheumatology patients preparing to move into the adult rheumatology service, to ensure continuity of care and a smooth transition.

Secretary: Glynis Vincent

01225 821638

glynis.vincent@nhs.net

Jaliah Norcott

Jaliah is an associate CTD Nurse specialist with an interest in Lupus. She reviews patients with vasculitis, scleroderma, myositis and primary Raynaud's syndrome and also covers the inflammatory arthritis clinic. She runs monthly Lupus annual review clinics alongside leading Lupus consultants.

I am part of the quarterly joint obstetrics and rheumatology team. This involves pre-pregnancy counselling and disease monitoring during and after pregnancy.

I have two Burmese cats (Aria and Theo) with big personalities. Foraging for wild garlic in the spring was one lockdown discovery - great with baked salmon and makes great pesto. I also forage for samphire – sea asparagus - along the North Devon coast (following strict conservation guidelines).

Sarah Smith

Sarah is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) and specialises in connective tissue diseases (CTD), which include Vasculitis, Lupus, Systemic sclerosis, Myositis and Sjogrens syndrome. She completed her training at The Royal Free Hospital and worked as a sister on the Rheumatology & Acute General Medical Ward and the Rheumatology outpatients department prior to her post at the RNHRD.

Sarah worked as a Clinical Research nurse at the RNHRD for a number of years, coordinating both commercial trials and academic studies. She currently runs CTD clinics, advises, educates and provides support for patients'. She is a member of the Royal College of Nursing and the British Society for Rheumatology.

Sarah loves the outdoors, whether that's glamping, gardening, picnics, golfing or walking the dog. Above all she enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Sandi Derham

Sandi Derham is the clinical lead for the Rheumatology Occupational Therapy Team at the RNHRD. She currently holds an NIHR Academy Fellowship and splits her time between rheumatology clinical work and clinical research. Her areas of special interest are fibromyalgia, supporting self-management of rheumatology conditions and cognitive dysfunction/fibro-fog.