Origin Fertility Care

Team

Patients seek infertility treatment and advice for one reason – to help them become pregnant. Many factors contribute to a clinic's ability to help patients achieve successful pregnancies, but after the age and physical wellbeing of the client couple, the single greatest factor is the skill and competence of the treatment team.

At Origin, we are proud of our excellent team of highly qualified consultants and embryologists, and of our caring, friendly and supportive network of skilled nurses, counsellors and receptionists.

There is considerable evidence that stress can have an impact on fertility. For many couples assisted conception can be the end of a long and difficult journey of trying to conceive and this is often an emotional and trying time. As we work in partnership with our patients towards achieving a successful pregnancy, our counsellor is part of that team, helping to reduce patient stress and improve mental wellbeing as part of the treatment process. Although not compulsory we strongly recommend that patients avail of the counselling service as we believe that it makes a valuable contribution to treatment.

meet our team:

Jenny Hall

Managing Director
Jenny Hall

Jenny Hall was a founder member of Nottingham University Research and Treatment Centre in Reproduction (NURTURE). She practiced embryology there from 1991 to 1999 and gained experience in all areas of infertility management. She also worked as an embryologist in Leicester and in Rome, and has conducted extensive research on male factor infertility. Jenny returned home to Belfast in 1999 and has a passionate commitment to the provision of fertility treatment in Northern Ireland. The opening of Origin marked the culmination of a four-year project to set up a private IVF unit in Northern Ireland.

Donna Tennant

Clinic Manager
Donna Tennant

Donna worked as a fertility nurse in the Regional Fertility Centre, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast from April 1995 until December 2004. At the RVH she held the post of ovum donation nurse and became the senior nurse/sister in July 2002 where her challenge was to build up a strong nursing team. Donna joined the Origin team in December 2004. She is a member of the Royal College of Nursing, Fertility Nurses Group and was a member of their steering committee from 2003-2008. Donna became the Clinic's Person Responsible for the HFEA on 1 August 2008.

Dr Gillian Williamson

Fertility Specialist
Dr Gillian Williamson

Dr Sami Farrag

Fertility Specialist
Dr Sami Farrag

Dr Farrag has joined Origin as a full-time clinician since August 2007. He has been included on the Specialist Register of GMC as a consultant Obtetrician and Gynaecologist. We have appointed him as a consultant Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist. Dr Farrag has previously worked in all the major teaching hospitals in Northern Ireland, including a 2 year post as a Clinical Fellow in Reproductive Medicine at the Regional Fertility Centre, Belfast. His joining has significantly enhanced both our skills-base and our promise of no waiting list and accelerated treatment programmes.

Dr Anil Gudi

Fertility Specialist
Dr Anil Gudi

Dr Winston Justin

Fertility Specialist
Dr Winston Justin

Dr Amit Shah

Fertilty Specialist
Dr Amit Shah

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Embryology team:

Jim McNally

Embryology Manager
Jim McNally

Jim began his embryology career in 1995 at the Regional Fertility Centre. Prior to this he had been working in research. Clinical training and Health Professions Council membership followed and he is currently studying for part II professional examinations (MRCPath). At Origin he manages the embryology laboratory and is also heavily involved in IT and Quality Management within the unit. Areas of interest include applying appropriate methods to maximise success rates, impact of free radicals in infertility and imaging of embryo development. When not working he spends his spare time walking the dog, cycling, swimming and with his family – though not necessarily in that order of priority.

Steven Fleming

Consultant Embryologist
Steven Fleming

Kerstin Dunbar

Pre-Reg Embryologist
Kerstin Dunbar

Lauren Dalzell

Pre-Reg Embryologist
Lauren Dalzell

Mhairi West

Trainee Embryologist
Mhairi West

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Nursing Team:

Barbara Dowling

Deputy Nurse Manager
Barbara Dowling

Joan Duffy

Deputy Nurse Manager
Joan Duffy

Gillian Ballantine

Nurse Consultant
Gillian Ballantine

Sandra Sloss

Fertility Nurse
Sandra Sloss

Elaine Blaney

Fertility Nurse
Elaine Blaney

Elaine Luke

Fertility Nurse
Elaine Luke

Anita Brankin

Fertility Nurse
Anita Brankin

Jenny Rodgers

Fertility Nurse
Jenny Rodgers

Karen Wellwood

Fertility Nurse
Karen Wellwood

Lee Coyle

Healthcare Assistant
Lee Coyle

Fiona Rogan

Healthcare Assistant
Fiona Rogan

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Counsellor:

Patricia McCrystal

Counselling Psychologist
Patricia McCrystal

Patricia is a Counselling Psychologist and Accredited Counsellor with a strong background in both the NHS and corporate sector. She studied at Queens’ University, Trinity College, University of Roehampton and University of Ulster. She has run clinics in both the Royal Group of Hospitals and Musgrave Park Hospital and currently provides a psychological service to a range of public and private sector clients. Patricia played a key role in establishing the counselling service at Origin and continues to manage this.

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Administration Team:

Judith Evans

Administration Manager
Judith Evans

Ruth Henderson

Senior Administrator
Ruth Henderson

Lynn Pavis

Administrator
Lynn Pavis

Arlene Mann

Administrator
Arlene Mann

Janet Armstrong

Administrator
Janet Armstrong

Anne-Marie Nelson

Administrator
Anne-Marie Nelson

Zarah Akilagun-Thompson

Management Support Executive
Zarah Akilagun-Thompson

Gemma Derbyshire

Finance Adminstrator
Gemma Derbyshire

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Complementary Team:

Rosemary Holmes

Housekeeper
Rosemary Holmes

Jennifer Gallagher

Housekeeper
Jennifer Gallagher

Paul Whitcombe

Caretaker/Houskeeper
Paul Whitcombe

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