Doctor Today

Medical Director

John Knottenbelt

BSc, MB ChB (Birm), FRCP (Lon), FRCS (Ed), FFAEM John is the Medical Director of Doctor Today. He also works as a consultant in Accident and Emergency. Having qualified in 1968 and having worked in Zimbabwe, South Africa and the UK, he has a wide experience of medical and surgical problems, especially emergencies. His special interests are pain relief, treatment of backache and neckache, the effects of injuries, side effects of medications and puzzling symptoms.

GP Partner and Practice Manager

Marissa Vassiliou

MBBCh (Wits) DRCOG (London) Dr Vassiliou qualified at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa in 2003 where she was classmates with Dr Brenda Nathanson. She has a keen interest in paediatrics and was awarded the prize for 'Excellence In Paediatrics' during her internship year. After this she did a further year of community work looking after families in the South African Military. She has been working as a doctor in the UK since 2006 with experience in general practice, corporate health and A&E. She has been working at Doctor Today since 2007 and is one of the practice partners. She has completed a Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and is an associate member of the Royal College of GPs. She is married with a small child and is very keen on child health and nutrition.

GP

Darshna Patel

MBBS (UCL) , DRCOG (London) Dr Patel qualified at University College London in 2007. She has a keen interest in general medicine, diabetes management, women’s health and Functional Medicine. She completed a 4 year Academic GP training programme with Royal Free Hospital and qualified as a General Practitioner in 2016. She has been working in the NHS as a salaried/locum GP since qualifying. She completed her Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2013 and is a member of the RCGP. In 2018 she completed her Certificate in Diabetes Care with Warwick University in 2018 and was Clinical Lead for Diabetes in her Practice. She also completed the Applying Functional Medicine to Clinical Practice in October 2018 and is passionate about integrating evidence based Functional Medical practices into care plans with her patients. When she is not working, she looks after her two children and enjoys keeping fit, reading, travelling, theatre and watching independent films.

Practice Nurse Prescriber

Debbie Joffe

RGN BSc (Hons) Independent Nurse Prescriber (INP) Originally from South Africa, Debbie furthered her nursing career in London at Middlesex University. Debbie is a qualified registered nurse and aesthetics practitioner. She is trained and experienced in a variety of nursing skills as well as in wrinkle reduction using Botulinum Toxin A and Dermal Fillers. She is currently studying towards her prescribers license. When she is not with patients she loves to spend time on long walks with her daughter and golden retriever Sophie. Debbie has an excellent reputation as a nurse and is well known for her caring and attentive bedside manner.

Office Administrator

Shana Monrose

Shana joined us in September 2017 bringing with her a very strong background in administration. Originally from London, she has a strong interest in beauty, fashion and holistic therapies including massage.

Therapist and Lactation Consultant

Stacey Zimmels

BSc (Hons) MRSCSLT, MHCPC, MASLTIP, IBCLC Stacey Zimmels is a feeding and swallowing specialist speech therapist (SLT) and International BoardCertified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Stacey has worked for almost 20 years supporting infants and children with a wide range of feeding and swallowing difficulties. Her breadth of knowledge and experience runs across the spectrum; including but not exclusive to, preterm infants, breast and bottle feeding, weaning difficulties, managing allergies and reflux, swallowing difficulties and fussy eating. Stacey is the Clinical Lead for a paediatric feeding service in an NHS tertiary hospital and also runs a private practice. Stacey has published abstracts and articles in her field of interest and has presented at conferences. In addition to her work supporting children and families she is passionate about training others in her field, she provides clinical supervision services for a number of other feeding specialist SLT’s within the NHS. She has also consulted on NHS service management and development for feeding and swallowing services. You can contact Stacey via her website or visit her on Instagram.

Counsellor and Clinical Hypnotherapist

Karen Richardson

Karen Richardson, who also works at Doctor Today, is a qualified counsellor with over 20 years’ experience in short and long-term counselling. She does one-to-one counselling and also works with couples. Her areas of expertise include anxiety and depression, anger management, bereavement, addictions and relations. She employs, when appropriate, hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. She practises at Doctor Today and in Fulham. Karen also talks to students on the hazards of addictions and compulsions, including eating disorders, self-harming, the gateway drugs of alcohol, cigarettes(including vaping), nitrous oxide and cannabis, binge drinking, gambling and bullying. She gives talks to parents, separately, on those addictions and compulsions, including how to spot the danger signals and promote self-esteem in adolescents.

Osteopath

Robin Lansman

D.O. MIHPE Robin Lansman qualified at the British School of Osteopathy (now University College of Osteopathy) in 1988. He was Senior Tutor of Sports Injuries at the British School of Osteopathy for 10 years, treating sports injuries at both Recreational and Competitive levels. He opened the first of his Body Back-Up Clinics and worked with GP Surgeries and Sports Clubs as well as private practice.He specialises in back pain and sciatica, arm and shoulder pain (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) as well as pregnancy care, related joint and muscle pains in the back and pelvis. Robin loves Badminton and other racquet sports, uses the gym and has run The British 10k in Central London. He is a passionate about theatre directing, musical theatre and travel. You can learn more about Robin by visiting the Body Back-up website.