The network values clinical collaboration and prides itself on being clinically led, ensuring that clinical expertise is a main driver for change within the region.
Dr Feilim Murphy has worked as a Consultant Paediatric Urologist in St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2007 after coming to London temporarily for 6 months in 2005 from Dublin. Prior to this he trained in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.
He has been fortunate to work as a clinical director for paediatrics in SGUH and being the Secretary to the British Association of Paediatric Urologists prior to joining the network as the clinical lead for Surgery in Children (Sic) in 2018. Since then, he has had the privilege to work with many talented and caring individuals both within the STPN and at members trusts. Together we have been able to improve services for children with forearm fractures, spinal issues, tonsillitis, appendicitis and testicular torsion, to name both a few. Over the years the STPN has shown itself to be sensible, fair and apolitical with our only interest in enabling better care and outcomes for the children.
As an organisation we have grown and matured and thus we will meet the new challenges together with dedication and focus. As always Feilim is here to serve the network, every member of staff who cares for children in every hospital and our children, young people and families.
Mr/Dr Kunalan Maruthainar is a Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon working at the St George’s, Epsom and St Helier’s Hospital Group. After completion of his orthopaedic higher surgical training on the Royal National Orthopaedic rotation he undertook Fellowship training at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Royal National Orthopaedic Hospitals. Before starting at GESH he spent invaluable time as a consultant at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals.
Kunalan is a Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Tutor, GMC recognised trainer and BOA mentor.
Kunalan aims to bring incremental clear improvements to the care of paediatric orthopaedic patients across the region working collaboratively with the many keen and kind team members in the region. Kunalan has an interest in non-technical skills and eager to promote the care of children with musculoskeletal infections and those with complex needs.
Mr. Kiran Varad is a consultant paediatric ENT surgeon (ear, nose and throat specialist) based in Surrey, working at Royal Surrey County Hospital and Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospital.
He is the Clinical Lead for ENT at the South Thames Paediatric Network, helping coordinate children’s ENT services across South London, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. He also serves as the Paediatric Surgery Lead at Guildford and St.Peter’s, with a strong focus on improving access to specialist ENT care locally.
Mr. Varad completed an advanced fellowship in paediatric ENT at Great Ormond Street Hospital, with further training in paediatric airway disorders and head and neck anomalies. He has since established a tertiary-level paediatric airway and head and neck anomaly service in Surrey, enabling families to access expert care closer to home.
Mr. Varad’s clinical practice covers the full range of paediatric ENT conditions, including airway disorders, sleep-disordered breathing, recurrent tonsillitis, neck lumps, and congenital head and neck anomalies. He regularly manages children requiring tonsillectomy, and has a particular interest in coblation intracapsular techniques, (a safer and more minimally invasive form of tonsillectomy).. He works closely with families and multidisciplinary teams to provide individualised care, and supports improved access to specialist paediatric ENT services across Surrey and the wider South Thames region.
.
Laura is the Lead Nurse for the Surgery in Children ODN. She is familiar with the hospitals across the region, having worked with South Thames Retrieval Service for many years. Laura is particularly keen to support nurses, and the wider MDT, looking after children on any surgical journey and hopes to share learning between specialist services and the rest of the network.
.
Oli is the Lead for Paediatric Critical Care at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, Brighton – an established 10-bedded, Level 2 Critical Care Unit and has been a Consultant in Brighton since 2008. He has, amongst other things, helped establish a 24-hour Children’s ED, a Nurse-led Prolonged Jaundice Clinic and a Consultant delivered Child Protection Medical service for Social Care. Locally he works in both the Children’s ED and Critical Care Unit as well as holding General Paediatric Clinics. Oli is a Clinical Supervisor to resident doctors rotating through paediatrics, Personal Tutor to students at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Chair of Rockinghorse; a well-established local charity which helps support paediatric and neonatal care. Oli is also a member of the PICANET Clinical Advisory Group and represents Level 2 Units at this national forum.
Before joining as the Critical Care Clinical lead he has helped contribute to the STPN guidelines relating to Non-Invasive Ventilation and hosted visits to his Critical Care Unit to help support hospitals embarking on providing this mode of respiratory support. He will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role within the STPN.
Dr Dilanee Sangaran is a Consultant Paediatric Intensivist at St Georges Hospital.
Sarah Levitt is our Lead Nurse for Critical Care and completed her PGDip in Paediatric Nursing at City University following the completion of a Bachelor of Medical Science Degree at Birmingham University. She has also completed a Senior Leader Masters Degree Apprenticeship with Henley Business School.
Before joining the Network as the PCC lead Nurse in January 2023 she has worked in both District General Hospitals and in Tertiary centres in a variety of fields, concentrating on Critical Care in both. She is experienced in Governance, recruitment, improving multidisciplinary working within teams and Quality Improvement.
Combining these experiences to improve healthcare for children and young people across the region is where her passion lies, particularly when it comes to Critical Care and the deteriorating patient. Professionalism, supporting the development of a resilient workforce for the changing paediatric landscape along with education and training has always been a priority and is something she will continue to focus on within the Network as the Paediatric Critical Care lead.
Dr Samantha Black is a paediatric and perioperative anaesthetist at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Kent. She is paediatric anaesthetic lead at Medway having established paediatric preassessment and HVLC paediatric lists. Her main interests include both adult and paediatric preassessment, CPET and prehabilitation. She is the patient information lead at the Royal College of Anaesthetists and has led on the projects ‘Dennis has an Anaesthetic’ and ‘Preparing your Mind’ as part of the colleges ‘Fitter Better Sooner’ toolkit. She is also part of the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland perioperative committee, and was part of the team to write the first ever national paediatric preassessment best practice guidance. She is part of the team currently writing the best practice guidance in preparation and management of children and young people with additional needs requiring surgery or procedures.