Meet the Team

Doctors

Dr Aravinth Balachandran

Gender: Male

Primary qualifications: MB BS 2002 BSc 1998 MRCGP 2008
Dr Aravinth Balachandran joined the practice as a full time Partner from 1st June 2014.  He now works Mondays and Fridays and has interests in general medicine and health informatics. He is also a Governing Body Member and the Clinical IT Lead for South Kent Coast CCG. Dr Bala (as he is known) covers evening sessions on a rota basis. Dr Balachandran has Pre Bookable appointments Monday PM & Friday’s.

Dr Emma Harvey

Gender: Female

Primary qualifications: MRCGP DRCO MBChB BSc Qualified Warwick 2007
Dr Emma Harvey has worked for Oaklands Health Centre since 2015 as a Salaried GP.  Dr Harvey works Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and joined the partnership at Oaklands in October 2022.  Dr Harvey has an interest in women’s health. Dr Harvey has Prebookable appointments Wednesday, Thursday & Fridays.

Dr Lata Limbu

Gender: Female
Dr Limbu has Prebookable appointments Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday & Thursdays.

Dr Selina Swann

Gender: Female

Dr Laetitia Clarke

Gender: Female

Primary qualifications: Primary qualifications: BMedSci, BMBS, MRCGP
I am a General Practitioner with a strong interest in mental health, chronic pain management, and addiction medicine. My practice focuses on providing compassionate, holistic care that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of health. I’m particularly passionate about supporting patients with complex, long-term conditions and helping them navigate the often-overlapping challenges of chronic illness, emotional wellbeing, and substance use, including prescribed pain medication. My approach emphasizes evidence-based treatment, continuity of care, and empowering patients to play an active role in their health journey. Dr Clarke has Prebookable appointments Monday,Tuesday & Thursdays.

Dr Neil Banik

Gender: Male

Primary qualifications: MB BS 1998 MD. FCCP. FRCP 2012
MB.BS, MD, FRCP[UK], is an experienced  GP with special interests in Cardiology and Respiratory medicine. He is a member of the Primary Care Cardiology and Respiratory societies and has been a clinical advisor to both the East Kent NHS/HCP and the Kent/Medway ICB. He believes in a holistic approach to healthcare and practices mindfulness and Tai chi.

Dr James Boyle

Seasional/Locum GP

Dr Josie Field

Seasional/Locum GP

Nursing Staff

Nurse Practitioners

Claire Morgan

RGN
Claire has several years experience as a Nurse Practitioner and currently leads the nursing team at Oaklands Health Centre. Working with the GPs, she is able to see and assess patients as well as prescribed medication for certain conditions. She also supports the GPs for home visits.

Sue Mills

RGN
Sue is an experienced nurse practitioner and has had several years experience working at the minor injuries unit at Royal Victoria Hospital. She is able to see and assess patients with the support of the GPs and also able to prescribe medication for certain conditions.

Kate White

RGN

Assuntina (Tina) Heales

RGN
Tina has joined us from a district nursing background and supports the GPs seeing and treating minor illness conditions. She works closely with the nursing team and GPs and also supports the practice with home visits.

Paramedic Practitioner

 

Ben Wolstenhulme

Paramedic Practitioner

Tom Boreham

Paramedic Practitioner

Tom grew up in Hythe and first started working in healthcare when he joined the Ambulance Service in 2018. He has been a registered Paramedic for over 4 years, completing his BSc at Canterbury Christchurch University and joining the Special Operation Response Team, before moving into Clinical Management at NHS111. 
After developing interest in Frailty and Hospital Avoidance, Tom left the ambulance service and moved to Oaklands Health Centre in 2024, completing home visits and minor illness clinics on behalf of the surgery, with plans to start training into Advanced Clinical Practice in 2026. 
Tom is also a serving Officer within 256 City of London and South-East Multi-Role Medical Regiment, British Army Reserves, and is the surgery’s Armed Forces and Veteran’s Champion. 

Nurses

Mrs Claire Hammett (f)

Practice Nurse

Claire specialises in the management and treatment of patients with COPD and can be seen for a pre-booked appointment on a Fridays and some Wednesdays.

Mrs Emma Tague (f)

Practice Nurse

Catherine Tullett (f)

Practice Nurse

Healthcare Assistants

Mrs Mechelle Jones (f)

Healthcare Assistant

Mechelle is an experienced HCA and can be seen for chronic disease pre-assessments (prior to an annual review), blood pressure monitoring, ECGs, ear syringing, dressings and health checks and her appointments are pre-bookable.  She can be seen on Thursdays. Mechelle also runs our Dermascope clinic.  

Mrs Jean Clatworthy (f)

Healthcare Assistant

Jean is an experienced HCA and can be seen for pre-bookable appointments Monday to Friday. Jean can be seen for chronic disease pre-assessment clinics (prior to an annual review), NHS Healthchecks, ECGs, dressings, blood pressure monitoring, ear syringing and runs the Dermascope clinics with Mechelle.   She also assists Dr Chandrakumar in the minor surgery/cortisone clinics.  

Mrs Nicky Sproston (f)

Healthcare Assistant

Nicky is an experienced HCA who joined the surgery from the Intermediate Care Team based in the community. Nicky works Monday-Friday and can be seen for NHS Health checks, ECGs, observations, wound care, injections, chronic disease pre-assessments as well as helping out with Dermascopes. Nicky also assists Dr Chandrakumar in the minor surgery/cortisone clinics.

Mr Will O’Sullivan (m)

Healthcare Assistant

Phlebotomist

Layla Carter-Tatnell (f)

Phlebotomist

I have been working a phlebotomist for the last 3 years. In September I am leaving the surgery to attend University to study and become an Adult Nurse. I am very excited for this new chapter and hope to come back to the surgery once I am qualified to work as the surgery’s practice nurse.

Practice Team

Miss Claire Hewson

Practice Manager

Mrs Penny Snow

Deputy Practice Manager

Secretaries

Karen 

Secretary

Joanne

Secretary

Marisa

Secretary

Our secretaries are responsible for arranging referrals under the direction of our GPs and also help collate medical reports.

GP Assistants

Beth

GP Assistant

Jessica

GP Assistant

Administrative Team

Jo

Prescriptions Clerk

Julie

Prescriptions Clerk

Jenny

Pharmacy Technician

Monica

Senior QoF & Safeguarding Co-ordinator

Mechelle

QoF Co-ordinator & Healthcare Assistant

Natalie

Senior Workflow & IT Coordinator

Amanda

Workflow Coordinator

Amber 

Workflow Coordinator

Lisa

Workflow Coordinator

Laura

Clinical Administrator

Care Navigators

Devon

Senior Care Navigator

Aimee

Care Navigator

Donna

Care Navigator

Layla

Care Navigator

Louisa

Care Navigator

Georgia

Care Navigator

Alex

Care Navigator

Victoria

Care Navigator