staff profiles
Darren Wigg (Clinical Lead)
Darren is our founder, director and clinical lead physiotherapist. He is a former international swimmer, representing Great Britain at the World and European Championships on numerous occasions. After retiring from sport Darren studied Physiotherapy at Northumbria University and graduated with a first class honours degree in 2005….
Daniel Farnell (Clinical Specialist and Injection Therapist)
Daniel was inspired to become a physiotherapist after seeing the change in his Grandfather after his two strokes; helping the physiotherapists who were caring for him to bring him back to his usual care free self. While at school he worked at Hadrian School in Fenham helping with the rehabilitation of children with various special needs….
Chanté Melville (Clinical Specialist)
Chanté is a South African Physiotherapist Completing her BSc (Hons) degree in 2016. She has extensive experience in many areas of Physiotherapy, with more than 7 years’ working in the Musculoskeletal (MSK) discipline of Physiotherapy. She was a practice owner in South Africa, managing out- patients as well as working in the acute hospital setting.
Fatma Elmahdi (Physiotherapist)
Fatma graduated with an MSc in Physiotherapy from Brunel University London in 2021 and a BSc. Kinesiology from the University of Calgary in 2018. She made the big move over from Canada to further pursue and excel in her physiotherapy career at Newcastle Physiotherapy. Fatma has always had a passion for helping people through various
Steven Workman (Clinical Specialist)
Steven graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2009 with a BSc (Hons) degree in physiotherapy. He began his career at Chesterfield Royal Hospital where he worked for 3 years, completing his junior rotations in a variety of specialist areas, including musculoskeletal (GP and Consultant referral), Hands, Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and he also spent time working in neurology and respiratory. He subsequently spent 4 years working as a senior musculoskeletal physiotherapist based out of Sunderland Royal Hospital and working out of GP clinics….
David Fothergill (Clinical Specialist)
David holds a first class BSc honours degree in physiotherapy in addition to a BSc honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science, both gained from Northumbria University. Since graduating David has developed his knowledge and skills working in the NHS, private practice and the sporting environment….
Tal Yishay (Clinical Specialist)
Tal graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy from the University of Haifa, Israel in 2016. Her wide experience specialises in a whole body holistic approach to rehabilitation. Tal’s philosophy brings together her understanding of posture, the body’s inter-connective tissue, lifestyle and emotional well being, to go beyond the injury and promote active health…
Ann-Marie Ballantine (Clinical Specialist)
Ann-Marie graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy from the University of Liverpool in 2009. Ann-Marie has over eight years specialised experience in the Musculoskeletal (MSK) aspect of Physiotherapy practice. She has an extensive range of experience including working in the NHS up to the level of a highly specialised Physiotherapist as well as in elite sport, including GB Basketball, GB Judo and Sunderland Football Academy. Her NHS experience also included working as part of the Northumbria NHS Occupational Health Physiotherapy service which equipped Ann-Marie with an advanced knowledge of ergonomic assessment.
Joanna Rumney (Physiotherapist)
Joanna graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy from the University of Cumbria in 2017. Joanna has worked within the NHS for most of her career so far, initially working as a junior physiotherapist completing rotations across orthopaedics, respiratory/critical care, neuro-elderly rehabilitation, musculoskeletal outpatients and then progressing into a specialist senior role in 2020 within
Rachel Zibe (Dietitian)
Rachel has a degree in Pharmacology and Physiology, a distinction in her Dietetics diploma and 11 years of varied experience in the NHS and private consultancy. More recently she qualified as a Sports Nutritionist after completing the International Olympic Committee’s diploma….
Claire Law (Practice Manager)
Claire is an integral part of our on-going success at Newcastle Physiotherapy. She has outstanding organisational and customer service skills, which creates a wonderful environment for our staff and clients. and graduated HND surface pattern from Batley school of art and design but continued to work within customer service industry while studying…
Chris Neale (Practice Manager, Jesmond Clinic)
Chris has a rounded experience in the hospitality and events industry which is strikingly evidenced by his outstanding customer care and efficiency as a Practice Manager at Newcastle Physiotherapy…