Meet the Team








  • Duncan Midgley

    Dr Duncan Midgley

    Clinical Director - Orthopaedic Surgeon

    BVMS CertSAO MRCVS

    Duncan graduated from The University of Glasgow in 1991 and achieved his RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Orthopaedics, whilst in practice, in 1996. He became a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons recognised Advanced  Veterinary Practitioner in Small Animal Orthopaedics in 2014. He is a clinical director at Rutland House Referrals in St.Helens where he has worked in orthopaedics for over 20 years. He is a consultant for Securos Orthopaedics and has taught courses to postgraduate vets on their behalf for a number of years. He has presented at BSAVA, VetFest, the London Vet show and World Veterinary Orthopaedic Congress on their behalf. He is the current chair of the VetPartners surgery board. When not working, he spends his time trying to entertain his 3 children or reducing his golf handicap. His interests lie in all areas of orthopaedics and traumatology; specifically, cranial cruciate disease, application of locking plates and plate rod systems, and treatments for canine hip disease.    

  • Dr Bartosz Ropelewski

    Dr Bartosz Ropelewski

    Orthopaedic & Soft Tissue Surgeon

    GPCertSAS PGCertSAS MRCVS RCVS advanced practitioner in small animal surgery

    Bart qualified in 2006 from University of Warmia Mazury in Poland. Straight after University he completed a 9 month rotational internship in a Veterinary Hospital in Gdansk Poland. For the next 12 years Bart worked in a first opinion practice in South Manchester, where he developed a strong interest in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery and went on to study for certificate in small animal surgery which he achieved in 2016. The following year he gained my advanced practitioner status. In 2018 Bart started working in a busy hospital in Nottingham, where he further developed my surgical skills. Bart is interested in all aspects of surgery, but has a special interest in Neurosurgery, brachycephalic airway syndrome and reconstructive surgeries. Bart lives at home with his black cat, partner and our young daughter. Bart's interests outside of work include training for triathlons, walking and wild swimming.

  • James Portsmouth

    James Portsmouth

    Orthopaedic & Soft Tissue Surgeon

    BVSc BSAVA PGCertSAS MRCVS

    James graduated from University of Liverpool in 2013 and spent four years working in mixed practice in North Wales and Shropshire, before turning his focus to small animals only. He spent six years working as Lead Vet and later Area Principal Vet for a busy veterinary group across the North West and North Wales, whilst also developing his passion for surgery. James gained his surgical certificate and RCVS Advanced Practitioner status in 2022 and, following a short stint as a Veterinary Director in Hong Kong, joined Rutland House in 2023. His areas of interest include orthopaedics, osteoarthritis management and surgical oncology for cancer patients. Away from work you will likely find James on the rugby pitch where he captains his local club first XV.

  • Dr Steve Hancox

    Dr Steve Hancox

    Orthopaedic & Soft Tissue Surgeon

    BVSc CertVR CertSAS MRCVS RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery

    Steven qualified in 1984 and ran his own veterinary practice in Warrington for 30 years where he developed an interest in surgery including minimally invasive surgery. He obtained RCVS Certificates in Veterinary Radiology in 1992 and Small Animal Surgery in 2002. After selling his practice in 2017, he became an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in 2020. He sees soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery cases.

  • Dr Christopher Saul

    Dr Christopher Saul

    Internal Medicine

    BVetMed CertSAM MRCVS RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine

    Christopher qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 2003. He gained his certificate in small animal medicine in 2010, and since that time he has worked in a busy referral centre in the North West, seeing referrals in general medicine and oncology.

    His principal interests include gastrointestinal, pancreatic and liver diseases of dogs and cats as well as investigation and treatment of immune mediated diseases and chemotherapy for the treatment of lymphoma. He is also an external examiner for the University of Liverpool.

  • Dr Enrico Fantoni

    Dr Enrico Fantoni

    Internal Medicine

    CertAVP MRCVS

    Enrico qualified in 2016 from the University of Pisa in Italy. He gained his certificate in small animal medicine in 2022 and he started a certificate in Feline Practice the same year. Since graduation he has worked in a busy first opinion practice in South Wales, developing an interest in internal medicine. His principal interests include gastrointestinal and hematological diseases of dogs and cats and flexible and rigid endoscopy.

  • Dr Ingrid Segboer

    Dr Ingrid Segboer

    Dermatology

    DVM CertVD MRCVS RCVS recognised Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Dermatology

    Ingrid qualified from Utrecht University in the Netherlands in 1998. Soon after she moved to the UK and developed an interest in skin disorders. Ingrid gained a Certificate in Veterinary Dermatology in 2004, and moved up to Cheshire in 2007 to work alongside other certificate holders. Her main interest is in the management of atopic dermatitis and otitis, and to improve the quality of life of these patients. Ingrid has been doing intradermal tests since 2002 and attended a video-otoscopy course in Vienna in 2017.

  • Dr Molly Varga

    Dr Molly Varga

    Exotics Specialist

    BVetMed DZooMed MRCVS

    Molly is a RCVS Recognised Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. She gained her RCVS certificate in Zoological Medicine in 2001, and her Diploma in Zoological Medicine (Mammalian) in 2007.

    Molly has contributed to several textbooks including the BSAVA Manual of Reptiles (2nd and 3rd Editions), BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine, BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Surgery, Imaging and Dentistry, BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties, BSAVA Formulary (7th Edition) and edited the BSAVA Manual of Nursing Exotic Pets and Wildlife. Molly has also revised and updated the second edition of the Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. In addition to writing, Molly has lectured widely on a range of topics covering a variety of exotic species.

    Rutland House Exotics Department has the capacity and experience to examine, house and treat a variety of species including reptiles, fish, birds and most species of mammals (although species covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act will also be seen by appointment).

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    Dr Sofia Saraiva

    Veterinary Surgeon

    MRCVS

    After graduating from the University of Lisbon in 2014, Sofia worked as a small animal and exotic veterinary surgeon at practices in Portugal, Dubai and England, after which she completed an internship at Great Western Exotics. She is currently working towards a zoological medicine certificate, and enjoys travelling and volunteering at wildlife sanctuaries in her spare time. 

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    Bartlomiej Huza

    Veterinary Intern

    MRCVS

    Bartlomiej is a Veterinary Intern at Rutland House Referrals.

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    Adriene Oliveir

    Veterinary Intern

    MRCVS

    Adriene is a Veterinary Intern at Rutland House Referrals.

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    Nick Moldovan

    Veterinary Intern

    MRCVS

    Nick is a Veterinary Intern at Rutland House Referrals.

  • Janie Clare

    Janie Clare

    Clinical Director and Practice Manager

    Janie is the Clinical Director and Practice Manager at Rutland House Veterinary Hospital Group. 

  • Siobhan Tench

    Siobhan Tench

    Secretary

    Siobhan Tench is the Secretary at Rutland House Veterinary Hospital. 

  • Emma Cook

    Emma Cook

    Referral Co-coordinator

    Emma Cook is the Referral Co-coordinator at Rutland House Referrals. 

  • Craig Tessyman

    Craig Tessyman

    Exotics Nurse

    RVN

    Craig is a RVN working in our exotics department.

  • Bernie Pickavance

    Bernie Pickavance

    Dermatology Nurse

    RVN

    Bernie is a RVN working in our Dermatology department.

  • Steph Bradley

    Steph Bradley

    Veterinary Nurse

    RVN
  • Taylor Cooper

    Taylor Cooper

    Theatre Nurse

    RVN
  • Jenny Smith

    Jenny Smith

    Veterinary Nurse - Shift Leader

    RVN
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    Joanne Wallace

    Out of Hours Registered Veterinary Nurse

    RVN
  • Megan De Renzy

    Megan De Renzy

    Referral Lab

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    Alanna Jaques

    Theatre Nurse

    RVN
  • Andrea Illidge

    Andrea Illidge

    Referral Lab

  • Michelle Jones

    Michelle Jones

    Theatre Nurse

    DipAVN (Small Animal) RVN
  • Kelly Park

    Kelly Park

    Theatre Nurse

    DipAVN (Small Animal) RVN