MSc BSc (Hons) Clinic Manager

My name is Jenny and I am the clinic manager at the Lindens Clinic

I am also the psychologist on the team. I obtained my BSc (hons) from Leeds University in 1993 and my MSc from Liverpool in 1996. I have undertaken postgraduate training in electromyography, biofeedback and counseling.

However, my interest in treating facial palsy probably stemmed from my Saturday job back when I was 10! Following Diana’s first TV appearance in a late night BBC documentary back in the days before iplayer when you actually had to stay up and watch it! It was called Faces and Babies and it took us all by surprise when she was literally inundated with letters from people with facial palsy wishing to take part in her research trial. My job was to read all the letters, breaking them down into discreet medical categories and reply individually to each one. From that I learnt 2 things: how to type and to have a great respect for patients with facial palsy and all they have to deal with on a daily basis.

My current areas of interest and expertise are electromyography testing and biofeedback. So if you come to the clinic you will most likely meet me when you have your graphs. I love the emg machine it gives us detailed and useful clinical information and best of all the results are available whilst you are in the clinic – no long wait for test results we can tell you pretty much on the spot what is happening. And as for biofeedback…………..well I wrote a long piece about that for the website it is one of the most fantastic and above all practical (!) uses of psychological processes you will ever come across – its that good the physiotherapists nicked it!

I work closely with the children we have on treatment – there is a fine art to photographing a range of facial expressions in children – lets just say it involves a good camera and crawling round the clinic on my hands and knees! Great fun.

I am also the liaison person for the PCTs and am closely involved with all funding applications. The PCTs are the local primary care trusts and there are literally over a hundred of them in the England and Wales. If a patient is deemed suitable for facial rehabilitation then in some cases their local PCT will fund their treatment at the Lindens Clinic. It is a long drawn out process so it’s not something for everyone but please email me if you have any queries, I am always happy to support applications.

Other than that I write for the website, update the blog and occasionally make really bad cups of tea.

Now that you have met me I would like to introduce the team. I am lucky to come to work everyday and be surrounded by dedicated professionals who excel at what they do. The level of experience and expertise never fails to astound me and they love the challenge of being asked to help with unique and unusual cases. They strive to make the clinic a very welcoming and comforting place for people who travel a long way for our help. Please read their details and see for yourself.

BSc (Hons) RCSLT (Reg) HPC (Reg) ASLTIP

Penny qualified as a Speech and Language therapist over 20 years ago and is a member of both the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice.

She maintains an active lecturing role and is a clinical educator and examiner for the University of Ulster. Her personal ongoing research projects are in conjunction with the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and she has published papers on facial rehabilitation following Acoustic Neuroma removal. Penny is closely involved with the BANA Aberdeen branch.

Since choosing to specialise in the field of acute neurosurgery in 1994 Penny has worked extensively with post surgical and trauma cases developing a good treatment regime based around TES, emg, biofeedback and specific exercise as well as eye care and taping. Penny acts as our liaison for patients with communication issues and speech problems.

In a monthly clinic, in Aberdeen, she works closely with the skull base surgical team assessing and managing cases both pre and post operatively. This puts Penny in the rather unique position of being able to see patients prior to their surgery and following them through to discharge. This continuity of care makes for an easier passage through the system for the patients lucky enough to benefit from it.

Whilst based in Aberdeen Penny also runs the London clinics and as often as we can arrange it we ask her to join us in Manchester and not only for the Scottish shortbread she brings with her but also for her invaluable help on speech and communication issues. She is liaising with Diana on a number of our paediatric cases and helping us with teaching basic speech therapy exercises to enhance communication in preschoolers as their lip seal and movement improve.
We are hoping to enhance this role and utilize Penny’s skills in our assessment of swallowing problems in our patient with acquired brain injuries.

On a personal note I find Penny’s speech therapy background has been a breath of fresh air to us all. She has encouraged us to consider aspects of communication and their psychosocial impact. As a psychologist I find her views of the psychological problems associated with communication difficulties in facial paralysis are spot on and her down to earth approach in dealing with these issues endears her to her patients.

Grad Dip Phys MCSP HPC (Reg.) Chartered Physiotherapist

Wendy qualified as a physiotherapist over 25 years ago and she has had various roles within the NHS, for 20 years, before finally specialising in neurological physiotherapy.

We were thrilled when Wendy joined the Lindens team in 2000 since which time she has worked extensively with patients with facial paralysis. Wendy uses a variety of approaches including TES emg biofeedback and a variety of hands on techniques including taping and myofascial release and since liaising with local ophthalmic consultants a huge stress on eye care.

She is a specialist in Semg and biofeedback having trained with the Biofeedback Foundation in Europe in Amsterdam (2002) and Belgium (2005).

Many of our children find their way to Wendy for treatment and with a little bit of chocolate and amazing patience she gets fantastic results.

Whilst at the Lindens she has also worked as an Extended Scope Practitioner for the NHS in Oldham with orthopaedic outpatients and as a neurological physiotherapist on an acquired brain injury unit working with patient with complex needs.

She is a valuable member of the Facial Function Clinic (FFC) which is a specialist multidisciplinary clinic that runs on a monthly basis at the Manchester Royal Infirmary and allows patients to be assessed by a dedicated rehabilitation team including ENT, skull base, plastic and ophthalmic surgeons. The aim of the FFC is to coordinate an overall treatment approach to optimise patient’s recovery on a case by case basis.

Wendy regularly lectures on courses and workshops held here at the Lindens Clinic and answers many of our email and phone medical queries from other referring practitioners.

My personal observation is that Wendy takes the patients treatment goals as being more important than objective outcome measures and as such her patients are always happy with their personal outcome at discharge. We are never surprised by the measures Wendy will go to in this pursuit and so when she emg’s a clarinet teacher playing his instrument to perfect his embouchure or we hear sounds of opera arias as she works on specific biofeedback exercises for a lady about to perform the Mikado who wants to minimise the signs of synkinesis on high notes we just leave her to it. Not surprisingly Wendy’s patients say the Lindens is a friendly place to come and its great to meet people who understand.

BSc (Hons) MCSP HPC (Reg) Chartered Physiotherapist

Claire qualified as a physiotherapist 15 years ago and her area of expertise is neurological conditions.

She worked in London in the neurology and neurosurgery units of NHS hospitals for 8 years before returning to Manchester to work privately.

At the Lindens Clinic Claire offers treatment to patients for face, arm, leg and trunk weakness as a result of acute and chronic injuries to nerves, the spine or the brain. She also treats balance and vertigo problems including those experienced post acoustic neuroma removal or post Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.

Claire’s treatment approach utilises electromyography, biofeedback and TES as well as a combination of manual physiotherapy techniques, exercises, movement and posture re-education.

Trauma injuries are a speciality of hers and she is frequently commissioned by solicitors to treat patient with peripheral nerve injuries following road traffic accidents or industrial injury, for example brachial plexus injuries following motorbike accidents. She also provides medico legal reports or reports to supports back to work applications.

Claire lectures on the Lindens Clinic courses and as a guest lecturer at hospitals. She regularly enjoys talking to various patient support groups and has addressed the last 2 BANA AGM’s as well as numerous local branch meetings.

Personally I think that Claire enjoys the challenge of treating patients who have not responded to previous interventions or who have an unusual diagnosis.

A letter from one eminent orthopaedic consultant we received last week said “… I discharge this patient into Claire’s capable hands and trust she will work her usual magic…”

And a local doctor ringing to refer a patient said “ well since you deal in miracles I wonder whether Claire could help this lady for me….”

If you have a neurological problem then please feel free to ring or email, prior to booking an appointment, and we will let you know if this is something Claire can help you with.