Dr Kate Kane, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Gastroenterology Clinical Service Lead

Dr Kate Kane qualified from the University of Birmingham with Honours in Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and undertook all of her postgraduate training within the Midlands.

Kate undertook a period of research from 1992–1994, jointly funded by a local scholarship and the Medical Research Council, studying the role of Vitamin D in colon cancer and was awarded an MD thesis. Prior to her appointment as a consultant at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) in 1998, Kate was a clinical lecturer in gastroenterology.

During her training, Kate developed a particular interest in nutritional and inflammatory bowel disease, and has been involved in the care of patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) for over 20 years. Kate developed the transition service for adolescent patients with gastrointestinal disease moving from Birmingham Children’s Hospital to UHB, including HPN patients.

Kate has been the consultant lead for the Nutrition Support Service since 1998, and is also the Clinical Service Lead for gastroenterology. When Kate is not working, she is busy looking after her three children with her husband.

Dr Sheldon Cooper, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Nutrition Support Team and Endoscopy Clinical Service Lead

Dr Sheldon Cooper MB ChB MSc MD FRCP RNutr is a consultant gastroenterologist and the Clinical Nutrition Lead at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB).

Dr Cooper graduated from the University of Birmingham and undertook his specialist training in the West Midlands, completing a short fellowship at the Salford Intestinal Failure Unit – one of two national units – during this time. Dr Cooper went on to earn a Masters degree in Nutritional Medicine from the University of Surrey and to complete a Doctoral thesis examining the causes of oesophageal cancer at the University of Birmingham.

After becoming a consultant in 2009, Dr Cooper led the home parenteral nutrition and intestinal failure services at the Dudley Hospitals Group, before moving to UHB in 2014/5, transferring the service to the Trust.

Dr Cooper is a registered nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition and is heavily involved with the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN), sitting on the council, and has formerly chaired the Education and Training Committee and the doctors’ core group, BAPEN medical. He is currently the Regional Representative for BAPEN and regularly attends the national adult small intestinal transplant meetings.

Jane Fletcher, Nutrition Nurse Team Lead

Jane has been a qualified nurse since graduating from the University of Central England in 1996, and joined the Nutrition Support Team at University Hospitals Birmingham in 2004 as a nutrition nurse specialist – becoming the Team Lead in 2010.

Prior to joining the Nutrition Support Team, Jane worked for an enteral feeding home care company for four years, supporting patients to deliver artificial nutrition in their own homes. Her previous nursing experience includes gastroenterology, colo-rectal and vascular surgery, respiratory medicine and haematology. Jane also holds a Masters of Medical Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Sheffield, graduating in 1997, for which she conducted research concerning the effect that dietary intake has on colostomy output.

Jane has been a non-medical prescriber since 2011, and has been privileged to speak at several national nutrition conferences, with her work being published on a number of occasions.

Hardip Malhi, Nutrition Nurse Specialist

Hardip graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Adult Nursing from Staffordshire University in 2005, joining University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) as a newly qualified staff nurse in 2005. Hardip then spent five years on the gastrointestinal unit, caring for medical and surgical patients with gastrointestinal illnesses, gaining a great deal of experience with complex nutritional needs.

Possessing a keen interest in nutrition, and serving as the nutrition link nurse during her time on the gastrointestinal unit, Hardip moved to join the Nutrition Support Team in November 2010. Hardip is now a non-medical prescriber within the team.

Rosie Thompson, Nutrition Nurse Specialist

Rosie obtained her BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing degree from the University of Birmingham in 2009, and she joined University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) as a newly qualified nurse soon after. After spending 18 months caring for patients undergoing gastrointestinal and upper gastrointestinal surgery, Rosie then spent three years working in critical care, looking after critically ill patients.

In 2012, Rosie joined the Nutrition Support Team, and within the team has gained the most experience dealing with patients who have very complex needs and require enteral feeding, but also possesses a great deal of experience caring for acutely unwell patients receiving parenteral nutrition from her previous nursing roles.

Diane Woodham, Nutrition Nurse Specialist

Diane trained as a nurse at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, qualifying in 1992. After spending ten years working at the General Hospital in Birmingham, Diane moved back to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 2002 – now part of University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB).

Diane has, over the years, gained a great deal of experience caring for patients with upper and lower gastrointestinal illnesses requiring medical care and surgery. After completing a Birmingham City University module on the clinical management of inflammatory bowel disease in 2009, she moved to join the Nutrition Support Team in November 2014.

Diane’s extensive experience includes caring for and supporting patients who require nutrition support, and supporting home parenteral nutrition patients who need direct admission to the ward.

Merceline Dera, Nutrition Nurse Specialist

Merceline began her nursing career 15 years ago on obtaining a Diploma in Nursing from the University of Namibia, and has spent the last nine years of her practice in the UK - working across various disciplines of nursing including infectious diseases, gastroenterology and endoscopy.

It was during her time on the gastroenterology ward that she developed a keen interest in gastrointestinal nursing and, deciding to further her experience in the field, moved to the endoscopy department in 2013. Merceline’s achievements there included being awarded a customer care award alongside two colleagues, following a nomination from a patient.

Merceline believes in building a trusting relationship with her patients, and seeks to acquire a comprehensive evaluation of each patient by taking the time to listen to and understand their particular needs. Merceline joined the Nutrition Support Team in May 2016.

Sharmalie Parkinson, Specialist Dietitian

Sharmalie graduated as a dietician with a BSc and Postgraduate Diploma in Nutrition in Dietetics from Queensland, Australia.

Working at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) since 1992, she has a special interest in gastroenterology and parenteral nutrition, and has been a member of the Nutrition Support Team for more than ten years, caring for patients with complex nutritional needs. Sharmalie also works within gastroenterology outpatient clinics.

Ruth Quinn, Specialist Dietitian

Ruth graduated as a registered dietician from Trinity College Dublin in 2012. After a period working at Leopardstown Park Hospital in Dublin, she began working at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) in February 2014.

Specialising in gastroenterology, Ruth also has experience in critical care and lower gastrointestinal surgery, and joined the Nutrition Support Team in 2016. Ruth is also the Vice-Chair of the West Midlands British Dietetic Association and a specialist committee member for the Coeliac Disease Quality Standards Advisory Position.

Anita Sangera, Senior Clinical Pharmacist

Anita obtained her MPharm from Aston University in 2002 and completed a year of pre-registration training at Central Middlesex and Northwick Park Hospitals in London, undertaking aseptic training in preparation of TPN and chemotherapy.

Anita joined University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) in 2003 as a junior pharmacist, rotating through various specialties – including gastroenterology and nutrition – and then undertaking a two year clinical diploma.

Anita joined the Nutrition Support Team in 2009, becoming a non-medical prescriber in 2010.

Sandeep Jangra, Senior Support Pharmacist

Sandeep obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Wolverhampton in 2010, before undertaking an MPharm degree from Kingston and St George’s Universities partnership School of Pharmacy in London.

Graduating with honours in 2015, Sandeep completed one year of pre-registration training at Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust, gaining experience in a host of rotations across several clinical specialties.

In 2016, Sandeep joined University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) as a junior pharmacist, rotating in elderly care and oncology with experience in cardiology, respiratory disease and diabetes.

Sandeep is currently a senior support pharmacist for surgical admissions and nutrition.

Ilva Jones, Enteral Nutrition Technician

Ilva joined University Hospitals Birmingham in 1999 as a nursing auxiliary on the surgical liver ward, where she worked for seven years.

After a period spent gaining experience in the endoscopy department from 2006–2008, Ilva joined the Nutrition Support Team in July 2008 as a junior member of staff – but has since progressed to become an experienced practitioner.

Ilva’s duties include teaching patients, relatives, carers and staff about the daily care and maintenance of feeding tubes and performing troubleshooting when problems arise. Ilva also organises the booking of patients into clinic and deals with queries.