Meet the team

Andrew has an MBA from the University of Southampton and is an ACMA qualified accountant. He has worked for Practice Plus Group for over 10 years and has held various roles within company including Commercial Manager based at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Southampton for 3 years, Senior Finance Manager and more recently Senior Commercial Manager.

Andrew is an experienced operational leader and is passionate about providing an outstanding service for patients. In 2020 he became the Hospital Director of Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet.

Name: Mr Jac Ciampolini

Job title: Medical Director and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

GMC number: 3698789

Specialty: Orthopaedics

Special interests: Primary and revision knee replacement, primary hip replacement.

Years of first medical qualifications: 1989

Year of becoming a specialist: 2005

Year of joining Practice Plus Group: 2005

Languages spoken: English, Italian

Personal interests: Skiing, hiking

Professional profile:

Mr Jac Ciampolini trained at the Medical School in Florence, where he achieved full marks with honours. As a postgraduate, he achieved the fellowship qualifications FRCS (Eng) and FRCS (Tr and Orth) from the Royal College of Surgeons.

Mr Ciampolini is a Fellow of the British Orthopaedic Association, a member of the British Hip Society and the British Society for Surgery of the Knee.

Membership of professional, national or regional bodies:

British Orthopaedic Association

British Hip Society

British Society for Surgery of the Knee

Catherine is responsible for the professional administration and referral management leadership at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet.

Catherine qualified with a BSc (Hons) in Adult Nursing from the University of the West of England in 1997.

Before joining Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet, Catherine was a Ward manager on an elective care ward at Yeovil District Hospital for 10 years.

Since then she has managed the Patient Experience Team, Outpatients, Clinical Governance and now the Operational team and Stores.

Catherine is passionate about process development and delivering high quality, safe and effective patient care, she has been highly involved in the CQC preparation and the development of clinical outcome reporting within the centre.

Name: Mr Zahid Saeed

Job title: Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

GMC number: 5196224

Specialty: Orthopaedics

Special interests: Hip and knee surgery

Years of first medical qualifications: 1995

Year of becoming a specialist: 2012

Year of joining Practice Plus Group: 2019

Languages spoken: English

Personal interests: Family and cricket

Professional profile:

Mr Zahid Saeed is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with a strong focus on the management of hip and knee disorders. He joined the team at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet in October 2019. During his career Mr Saeed has received numerous academic awards and has a keen interest in education, speaking as a faculty member at the national and international meetings. He is devoted to training and research, having trained the specialist registrars from the Trauma and Orthopaedics training programme.

Mr Saeed has contributed numerous book chapters to the Textbooks of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS). He takes joy in significantly improving patient’s quality of life following major surgery.

Membership of professional, national or regional bodies:

British Hip Society

British Orthopaedic Association

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)

Royal College of Surgeon of England

Royal College of Surgeon of Edinburgh

European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology( EFORT)

Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatology (SICOT)

Medical Defence Union (MDU)

Name: Mr George Tamvakopoulos

Job title: Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

GMC number: 4536549

Specialty: Orthopaedics

Special interests: Upper Limb Surgery (Shoulder, Elbow and carpus), Arthroscopic Surgery

Years of first medical qualifications: 1998

Year of becoming a specialist: 2015

Year of joining Practice Plus Group: 2019

Languages spoken: English, Greek, Italian, French

Personal interests: Tennis, skiing

Professional profile:

Mr George Tamvakopoulos joined Practice Plus Group in July 2019 after completing 2 years as an NHS consultant. His medical qualification is from King’s College School of Medicine in London which followed on after completing two degrees and basic science research in Boston in the United States.

After medical college Mr Tamvakopoulos completed his basic surgical training in London and Norwich and his higher surgical training in North West London and Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. His fellowship training was at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (Birmingham), arthroplasty fellowship at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (Stanmore) and upper limb fellowship at Royal London Hospital.

Mr Tamvakopouloss subspecialisation interest is in upper limb musculoskeletal conditions including sports injuries in all three joints in the upper limb (shoulder, elbow and wrist).

Membership of professional, national or regional bodies:

Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

British Elbow and Shoulder Society

British Orthopaedic Association

International Affiliate of Arthroscopic Association of North America

European Federation of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology

European Society for Surgery of the Shoulder and Elbow

Name: Mr Andrew Chambler

Job title: Specialist Shoulder & Elbow Consultant Surgeon

GMC number: 3678699

Specialty: Orthopaedics

Special interests: Management of sports injuries, tendinopathies and shoulder arthroplasty

Years of first medical qualifications: 1992

Year of becoming a specialist: 2003

Year of joining Practice Plus Group: 2018

Languages spoken: English

Personal interests: Following sport, skiing and spending time with his wife and children

Professional profile:

Mr Andrew Chambler has been a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in the UK for the past 14 years. He qualified from St Mary’s Hospital medical School, part of Imperial College, in London. Embarking on his surgical career, his interest soon became Orthopaedics and in particular shoulder and elbow surgery, being awarded his Masters of Surgery degree in this area by the University of London in 2000, under the supervision of Professor Roger Emery

He gained his Shoulder & Elbow Fellowship with Professor Carr in Oxford and has since been awarded travelling fellowships to UK & Europe as well as to the world renowned Mayo Clinic in the USA, by the British Elbow & Shoulder Society.

He developed the shoulder & elbow service at Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, concentrating on new advanced arthroscopic techniques and joint replacement but also organising quality control with prospective audit of surgical outcome to ensure the highest level of patient care. He became Clinical Director of Orthopaedics at YDH in 2011.

The areas of surgery include the management of sports injuries, tendinopathies and shoulder and elbow arthroplasty. He continues his interest in education and research being faculty for arthroscopic shoulder and elbow courses, peer reviewer for Journals and invited lecturer both national and internationally.

Membership of professional, national or regional bodies:

British Orthopaedic Association (BOA)

British Medical Association (BMA)

Name: Mr Tomasz Wudecki

Job title: Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

GMC number: 6121451

Specialty: Trauma and orthopaedics

Special interests: Lower limb arthroplasty, shoulder and knee soft tissue reconstructions

Years of first medical qualifications: 1990

Year of becoming a specialist: 2003

Year of joining Practice Plus Group: 2005

Languages spoken: English, Polish

Personal interests: Music, literature, travel, computing

Professional profile:

Mr Tomasz Wudecki gained his medical diploma from the Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland, as well as his Trauma and Orthopaedics Specialist training. He also received theoretical specialist training in the diagnosis of congenital and developmental hip dysplasia via ultrasound; microsurgical operative techniques for fresh hand injuries; long bones and pelvic fracture treatment; shoulder and knee arthroscopic reconstruction procedures and many more.

Before joining the Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth, Mr Wudecki was a consultant at the Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Department of the County Hospital in Pszczyna, Poland. He has co-written two publications relating to injuries sustained by volleyball players. This was a result of his involvement in the medical care of the Polish national volleyball and ski-jumping teams.

After eight years of working as an Orthopaedic Consultant in the Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth, since its opening in 2005, Mr Wudecki was awarded full Fellowship by the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2013. His main fields of interest and expertise are: shoulder and knee reconstruction open and arthroscopic surgery, and hip and knee replacement surgery including unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. He also performs a wide range of elbow, hand, knee and foot procedures.

Membership of professional, national or regional bodies:

Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons of England

Name: Dr Amin Rahat

Job title: Lead Consultant Anaesthetist

GMC number: 7093996

Specialty: Anaesthetist

Special interests: Regional and obstetric anaesthesia

Years of first medical qualifications: 1996

Year of becoming a specialist: 2003

Year of joining Practice Plus Group: 2018

Languages spoken: English, Hungarian, Arabic, Farsi

Personal interests: Sports, reading

Professional profile:

Dr Amin Rahat graduated from medical school in 1996 at the University of Debrecen, Hungary and completed his speciality training in ‘Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Therapy’ seven years later. He has over twenty three years’ experience working as an anaesthetist and has a special interest in regional and obstetric anaesthesia.

Dr Rahat moved to the UK in 2011, and joined the team at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet in 2018. Passionate about anaesthesia, he is a member of the Hungarian Society for Anaesthesiologists (MAITT) and the Norwegian Board of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care.

Membership of professional, national or regional bodies:

Hungarian Medical Chamber (MOK)

Hungarian Society for Anaesthesiologists (MAITT)

Hungarian Society of Transplantation

Hungarian Society of Paramedics and Oxiology (OMSZ)

Swedish Medical Chamber

Swedish Board of Anaesthesiology and ICU

Norwegian Medical Chamber

Norwegian Board of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care

General Medical Council (GMC)

Anaesthetic Association of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI)

Dr Jobson studied Medicine at Cambridge University and then completed clinical training at Oxford University. After House Officer posts he completed his training in Medicine and Gastroenterology in Nottingham and allied hospitals in the Trent Region. During that time he spent 3 years undertaking research which led to a PhD.

He then took up a Consultant Physician post at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton where he currently works with subspecialty interests in Upper GI Cancer, Endoscopy and Hepatology. He has worked in a variety of management positions, including Deputy Medical Director at Musgrove Park Hospital.

Since 2014 Dr Jobson has been undertaking endoscopy in various treatment centres for Practice Plus Group, and was appointed their Clinical Director for Endoscopy in September 2016.

Name: Szabolcs Szigethy

Job title: Consultant ENT Surgeon

GMC number: 6128852

Specialty: ENT

Special interests: Nasal form and function

Years of first medical qualifications: 1994

Year of becoming a specialist: 1998

Year of joining Practice Plus Group: 2014

Languages spoken: English

Personal interests: Chess, reading, cooking, walking, travel

Professional profile:

Mr Szabolcs Szigethy qualified from Medical School of Szeged, Hungary and was granted his Certificate of Completion of Training by the Hungarian National Specialist Board in 1998.

Mr Szigethy treats a broad spectrum of ear, nose and throat disorders and conditions, and as a part of this he performs a wide range of procedures, which among others include tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, grommet insertion, and tympanoplasty. He holds an MBA from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

Membership of professional, national or regional bodies:

Royal Society of Medicine

Specialty: Gynaecology
Special interests: Vaginal and pelvic floor surgery, minimal access surgery

Professional Profile:
Mr Dartey trained at the University of Ghana Medical School where he achieved a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree.

After practicing internal medicine, trauma/emergency and obstetrics, and gynaecology for a few years he relocated to the UK.

As a postgraduate he achieved his membership from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, MRCOG. Mr Dartey also trained in Groningen in the Netherlands and in the USA.

Mr Dartey has worked in various teaching and district hospitals in England and Scotland and has carried out research as well as writing papers for publication.

He is well known in the region having worked at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and RUH in Bath for four years.

Experience:
2011 – present Consultant Gynaecologist, Care UK
2010 – 2011 Locum Specialist Registrar/Consultant Gynaecologist, RUH Bath, UK
2008 – 2010 Senior Specialist Registrar, RUH Bath, UK
2007 – 2008 Senior Specialist Registrar, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, UK
2006 – 2007 Senior Specialist Registrar, Birmingham Heartlands, Bradford Teaching Hospitals, St Mary’s Teaching Hospital, Manchester, UK
2003 – 2006 Specialist Registrar/Senior Registrar, Bedford Hospital, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, UK

Name: Mr Mujahid El-Deen

Job title: Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Lead Clinician

GMC number: 4270920

Specialty: Orthopaedics

Special interests: Hand, hip and knee surgery

Years of first medical qualifications: 1989

Year of becoming a specialist: 2011

Year of joining Practice Plus Group: 2014

Languages spoken: English, Arabic

Personal interests: Flying, piloting light aircraft

Professional profile:

Mr Mujahid El-Deen worked in Scotland as an NHS consultant for eight years prior to joining Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet in 2014. He has published his research work in a number of orthopaedic journals including Bone Joint Surg Br 2008 and Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2006.

He performs high volume surgery at our centre mainly primary knee and hip replacements (averaging 4-8 a week) hand procedures (Dupuytren’s contracture excision, treatment of arthritis base of the thumb, carpal tunnel decompression and trigger finger release) and knee arthroscopic work.

Additional Qualifications : 1. FRCS (Glasgow) 2. MSc Orthopaedic Engineering 3. FRCS (Tr & Orth)

Membership of professional, national or regional bodies:

British Medical Association

The Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow

Name: Mr Gerard Lattouf

Job title: Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Foot and Ankle Specialist

GMC number: 6151793

Specialty: Orthopaedics, foot and ankle

Special interests: Sports injuries in foot and ankle, arthroscopies

Years of first medical qualifications: 1998 medical degree, 2003 trauma and orthopaedics

Year of becoming a specialist: 2006

Year of joining Practice Plus Group: 2010

Languages spoken: English

Personal interests: Fishing, clay shooting, hiking

Professional profile:

Mr Gerard Lattouf is originally from Lebanon but completed his medical studies and orthopaedic training in Lithuania. During his training Mr Lattouf had clinical attachments in France and Lebanon. From August 2003 Mr Lattouf worked in Lithuania as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon before moving to the UK in June 2007 to work as a Locum Orthopaedic SPr.

In January 2009 he started a one-year foot and ankle fellowship at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport. During his fellowship he attended foot and ankle courses and training in Switzerland. Mr Lattouf has also been a member of BOFAS (British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) since September 2010.

Membership of professional, national or regional bodies:

British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (BOFAS)