Private patients Northern services

We offer a private patient service, generating income for the benefit of all patients.

This is provided by some of our consultants and other medical colleagues outside of their core clinical hours and scheduled on-call periods. This means we are able to offer a comprehensive service to private patients alongside our wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services across the peninsula.

The income generated by private practice goes back into the Trust's finances, helping to support and improve NHS services. We are committed to reducing our NHS waiting lists and delivering the best quality care across the peninsula. As a result, private services are subject to NHS pressures and may not be immediately available, please contact your healthcare professional for more detailed information about referrals and timelines.  

Referrals

The referral for treatment as a Private Patient must be made by your GP. Your GP will refer you to an appropriate Consultant Specialist, who will see you for a private consultation. The Consultant will normally need a referral letter from your GP before the consultation.

If treatment is necessary which requires admission to the North Devon District Hospital, he/she will check with the administrator for bed availability and agree a date with you for admission.

Please note

If you have an insurance plan with Aviva and are considering private treatment with the Royal Devon, please contact Aviva before arranging your appointment. This is to make sure that any treatment or care is fully authorised with their policy, otherwise, you may have to self-fund to proceed. 

Miss Cheryl M Baldwick, Trauma & Orthopaedics

MBBS FRCS Ed (Tr & Orth)

Experience & Sub-specialty interest

Miss Baldwick is a consultant in Trauma & Orthopaedics with a subspecialist interest in upper limb surgery, dealing in particular with shoulder & elbow problems.  She is also able to offer ultrasound examination of the shoulder if necessary.

Current membership/ professional bodies

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh

Fellow of the British Orthopaedic Association

Member of the British Elbow & Shoulder Society

Contact details

Miss Baldwick’s secretary Kate Heath may be contacted on 01271 311654 kate.heath2@nhs.net on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.

Mr David Bunting, Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery

Speciality

  • Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery
  • General Surgery
  • Specialist Hernia Surgery

Areas of expertise

  • Laparoscopic surgery
  • Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (diagnostic and therapeutic)
  • Day-case surgery
  • Laparoscopic and open hernia repair
    • Inguinal
    • Femoral
    • Incisional
    • Umbilical/para-umbilical
    • Epigastric/ventral/Spigelian
  • Anti-reflux surgery and hiatus hernia repair (laparoscopic and open techniques)
  • Gallstone disease (laparoscopic and open techniques)
    • cholecystectomy
    • intra-operative ultrasound scan
    • exploration of common bile duct

Association membership

  • Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons on England
  • Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland
  • British Association of Day Surgery
  • Editor, Journal of One-Day Surgery
  • Medical Defence Union – Indemnity
  • General Medical Council – Specialist Register

Contact details

Mr Bunting’s Secretary Kelly Adams can be contacted on 01271 322447 email: kadams7@nhs.net. This is provided outside of a consultant's core clinical hours and scheduled on-call periods. 

Mr Luke Brunton, Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery

Mr Luke Brunton

Hip, Knee & Revision Hip Replacement Surgeon
BSc (hons), MBBS (Lond) FRCS (Tr & Orth) MD

Year of first Medical qualification 2003

Current membership of professional/other bodies:

  • GMC (UK)
  • British Orthopaedic Association
  • Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
  • British Hip Society

I qualified in London, and have worked in the UK, completing my specialist Orthopaedic training in the South West of England centred around Bristol. After this I spent almost 2 years as a fellow in Auckland, New Zealand where I specialised in Total Hip and Knee replacements, Revision Hip Replacements and complex lower limb trauma management. I have pursued my interest in joint replacement surgery first as a locum consultant in Weston-Super-Mare and then when successfully appointed to Barnstaple in 2018 as a Substantive Consultant.

I currently work in both public and private practice in Barnstaple, operating at NDDH, Barnstaple, North Devon. I have developed an interest in enhanced recovery for arthroplasty and am clinical lead for this. North Devon now has one of the best length of stays in Hip and Knee Replacement surgery for which we are rightly proud.
My practice is specialised to hip and knee surgery, with an emphasis on accurate implant positioning and bone and joint preservation. I also participate in the cover of acute trauma and orthopaedics on the on-call rota at NDDH and am actively involved with teaching, audit and research.

I am on the editorial board for the Journal Hip International.

I am the honorary secretary for the South West Orthopaedic Society (SWOC).

To get in contact for private surgery please email jackie.woodward@nhs.net or call 01271 – 322747. This is provided outside of a consultant's core clinical hours and scheduled on-call periods. 

Mr Richard Cove, Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon

Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon

Speciality:
Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon. Specialist interest in Knee, Foot and Ankle Surgery.

Experience or particular sub speciality:
Arthroscopy (key hole) surgery of the knee and ankle
Knee replacement (either total or partial)
Ankle Fusion
Bunion Surgery
Correction of foot and toe deformities.

Current membership/professional bodies:
BASK; British Association of Knee surgeons
BOFAS; British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society

MBChB Bristol University
MRCS Edinburgh
MSc Cardiff
FRSC (Trauma and orthopaedics)

GMC, OTSIS, BMA

Clinical availability and outpatient consultant fees:
This is provided outside of a consultant's core clinical hours and scheduled on-call periods. 


Contact details:
Private Secretary: Lisa Treml
Tel: 01271 311568
Email: lisa.treml@nhs.net

Mr Richard Cove
Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon
North Devon District Hospital
Raleigh Park
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 4JB

Mrs Katie Cross, General and Colorectal Surgery

Speciality:

General and Colorectal Surgery

Experience or particular sub speciality:

Colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, anal fissures, laparoscopic surgery

Current membership/professional bodies:

Royal College of Surgeons and Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.

Clinical availability and outpatient consultant fees:

This is provided outside of a consultant's core clinical hours and scheduled on-call periods. 

Contact details:

Private Secretary – Kelly Adams 01271 322447
email: kadams7@nhs.net

North Devon District Hospital
Raleigh Park
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 4JB

Dr Andrew Davis, Gastroenterology

Speciality:

Gastroenterology

Experience or particular sub speciality:

Liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease and advanced endoscopy.

Current membership/professional bodies:

Royal College of Physicians and British Society of Gastroenterology.

Clinical availability and outpatient consultant fees:

This is provided outside of a consultant's core clinical hours and scheduled on-call periods. 

Contact details:

Private Secretary:  Adele Atherton 01271 322734

Dr Christopher Gibbs, Cardiology and General (Internal) Medicine

Speciality:

Cardiology and General (Internal) Medicine

Experience or particular sub speciality:

General Adult Cardiology – chest pain, coronary artery disease, palpitations/arrhythmias, blackouts, heart failure, heart valve disorders, hypertension. Cardiac Imaging (Echo, Stress echo, CT)

Current membership/professional bodies: Fellow of Royal College of Physicians (London) British Cardiovascular Society, British Society of Heart Failure, British Society of Echocardiography, British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging (BSCI), British Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (BSCMR)

Contact details: Secretary (Ria Parish) 01271 314131

Mr Nikolas Jagodzinski, Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery

Specialises in

  • Hand & Wrist

About me

I practice as a full time NHS and private Consultant in Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery with a subspecialist interest in complex upper limb injuries and acquired conditions of the hand, wrist and elbow. I currently practice in Barnstaple and Tiverton both in the NHS and privately.

My orthopaedic training was based mainly in South West England, Birmingham and Peterborough. I completed an Advanced Training Post in Oxford as an Orthoplastics Interface fellow when I was awarded the Vivien Lees Gold Medal for the highest mark in the UK Orthoplastics Hand Diploma. I was also awarded the Bruce Bailey travelling fellowship prize to India for advanced hand, plastics and microsurgical training. A third award, the Ronald Raven Barber’s Award, sent me to Canada to learn Wide Awake Hand Surgery techniques from the president of the American Hand Surgery Society, Dr Don Lalonde.

I offer advice and treatments for acute and chronic conditions of the hand and wrist, and some elbow conditions. The majority of the procedures I offer are performed as a day case either under local, regional or general anaesthesia.

I enjoy training junior doctors and surgeons, other hand surgeons and hand therapists. I am a regular reviewer for the Journal of Hand Surgery, am well published myself and have presented at numerous international, national and regional conferences. I am active within the British Society for Surgery of the Hand and have worked with their overseas committee delivering hand surgery missions to third world countries.

Areas of interest

Arthritis of the hand and wrist; fractures; carpal tunnel decompression; cubital tunnel decompression; reconstructions for peripheral nerve palsies; Dupuytren’s disease; ganglions; trigger finger; De Quervain’s tenosynovitis; tendon decompressions, reconstructions and transfers; scaphoid fracture and reconstructions for non-union; tennis elbow; ligament injuries in the hand and wrist; wrist arthroscopy.

Contact details

Mr Jagodzinski secretary Kate Heath may be contacted on 01271 311654 kate.heath2@nhs.net on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays for any enquiries. This is provided outside of a consultant's core clinical hours and scheduled on-call periods. 

Mr Soumya Misra, Urology

Speciality:

Urology

Experience or particular sub speciality:

General Adult Urology including urological cancers

Special interest – lower urinary tract dysfunction, female urology, andrology

Current membership/professional bodies:

Fellow of Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow

European Association of Urology (EAU)

Contact details:

Private Secretary – Steve Potts 01271 311662

For further details please visit www.northdevonurology.com

Dr Lucy Miller, Persistent Pain Consultant

Consultant Details

Dr Lucy Miller BM MRCP FRCA

Speciality

Persistent Pain Consultant at Vitalise Health

Experience

Medication prescription and rationalisation for the treatment of persistent pain

Procedures and injections under ultrasound and x ray guidance

Part of the Vitalise multidisciplinary team – ongoing care with physiotherapist, osteopath and psychologist as part of the treatment plan

Botox for migraines

Current membership/professional bodies:

Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthesia

Member of Royal College of Physicians

Contact details

Private Secretary: Sharon Cloak 01271 314226

Vitalise Health website: http://vitalisehealth.co.uk/

Mr Achim Nestel, Ophthalmology

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
North Devon District Hospital
Raleigh Park
Barnstaple
EX31 4JB

Contact details:
Private Secretary: Alison Newton
Email: alison.newton1@nhs.net
Contact: 07773 741255

Areas of expertise:

1. Cataract Surgery
2. Intravitreal drug therapy (Lucentis, Eylea, Ozurdex) for retinal disease (“wet” macular degeneration, diabetes and retinal vein occlusions)
3. Retinal assessment +/- laser therapy for e.g. diabetes and retinal vein occlusions
4. Laser therapy to polish intraocular lenses (YAG-Capsulotomy)
5. Laser therapy to prevent acute glaucoma (YAG-Iridotomy)
6. Assessment + treatment of ocular inflammatory disease e.g. Iritis, Thyroid Eye Disease.

Website – https://www.eyesurgeonnorthdevon.co.uk/

This is provided outside of a consultant's core clinical hours and scheduled on-call periods. 

Mr Muhammed Razzaq, Ophthalmology

Mr Muhammed Aslam Razzaq
MB;BS MRCOphth

Consultant Ophthalmolgist (Permanent Locum)
(Practising Ophthalmolgist at NDDH since 2006)

Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust,
NDDH, Raleigh Park,
Barnstaple
EX31 3QS

Contact details:
Private Secretary: Alison Newton
Email: alison.newton1@nhs.net
Contact: 07773 741255

Areas of Expertise :
Routine and Complex Cataract Surgery
YAG Laser Capsulotomy to clear vision after cataract surgery
YAG Laser and SLT Laser to prevent and treat Glaucoma
Non Cosmetic Lid Surgery for Eye Lid Conditions

This is provided outside of a consultant's core clinical hours and scheduled on-call periods. 

Please note that Mr Razzaq doesn’t routinely deal with insurance paid private surgery.

Mr David Sanders, Upper GI, Specialist Hernia, Paediatric, General Surgery

Speciality:

Upper GI, Specialist Hernia, Paediatric, General Surgery

Experience or particular sub speciality:

Laparoscopic surgery.
Gallstone disease including laparoscopic cholecystectomy and bile duct exploration.
Reflux disease and achalasia of the oesophagus.
Hiatus hernia.
Hernia surgery – inguinal, femoral, lumbar, epigastric, umbilical, incisional.
Paediatric hernias – inguinal, umbilical and epigastric.
Paediatric undescended testicles.
Paediatric circumcision.
Paediatric general surgery.

Current membership/professional bodies:

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Board Member of the British Hernia Society.
Member of the Association of Upper GI Surgeons.
Member of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland.

Contact details:

Private Secretary – Angela McEnaney
Tel: 01271 322 749
Email: angela.mcenaney@nhs.net

Mr David Sanders
Consultant Upper GI, Specialist Hernia & Paediatric Surgeon
North Devon District Hospital
Raleigh Park
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 4JB

Mr Alex Sims, Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery

Mr Alex Sims

Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon and Clinical Lead for Major Trauma North Devon.

Experience or Particular Sub-Specialty:

Management of arthritis of the hip and knee, in particular, total hip and knee replacement

Fellowship-trained arthroplasty surgeon with broad operative experience of arthroplasty, periarticular and periprosthetic injuries and complex trauma including pelvic trauma.

Graduated MBBS Medicine 2006 from St George’s Hospital Medical School, London.

Master’s Degree in Orthopaedic Engineering with Cardiff University

Out of programme for research (OOPR) 2014 – 2016 leading a randomised controlled trial examining hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture and working towards award of PhD from the University of York.

Chair of the CORNET orthopaedic trainee research collaborative 2015 - 2017. This provided a unique opportunity to help steer regional and national research projects.

Following completion of surgical training in Newcastle, UK, travelled to Melbourne, Australia for fellowship training in hip and knee replacement surgery and orthopaedic trauma.

On return to the U.K., worked as a Consultant at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford and the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, prior to taking up a permanent position at Royal Devon Hospitals (Northern Services.)

I have also developed a strong research interest and actively participate in the generation of new evidence within orthopaedic surgery.

Clinical availability and outpatient consultant fees:
This is provided outside of a consultant's core clinical hours and scheduled on-call periods. 

Contact details:
Private Secretary: Lisa Treml
Tel: 01271 311568
Email: lisa.treml@nhs.net

Dr Dushen Tharmaratnam, Cardiology

Speciality:
Cardiology

Experience or particular sub speciality:
Particular interest in:
Heart Failure
Coronary imaging
Arrhythmia Care

Current membership/professional bodies:
MBBCh, MRCP

Contact details:
Private Secretary: Alison Newton
Email: alison.newton1@nhs.net
Contact: 07773 741255

Mr Karl Whittaker, Ophthalmology

Speciality:

Ophthalmology

Experience or particular sub speciality:

Cataract surgery,
Glaucoma,
Oculoplastic surgery,
Cosmetic Eyelid surgery

Current membership/professional bodies:

Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists,
Member of the British Society of Ocuoplastic Surgeons,
Member of the International Glaucoma Association

Contact details:

01271 349128

Mr David Williams

Speciality:

General and venous surgery.

Special interest:

Day case management of varicose veins, inguinal hernias, umbilical hernias, pilonidal sinus excision and removal of skin lesion.  Many, but not all, procedures are suitable for local anaesthetic.

Contact details:

Private Secretary: Sonia Woodage 01271 322424

Last updated: March 18, 2024.