Meet the Consultant Team

Dr Pradip Thakker was appointed as a Consultant Paediatrician to work in Nobles Hospital from March 2021. He was successfully appointed to the Clinical Director for Integrated Women, Children & Families Care Group position in October 2021.

He has Specialist accreditation in Paediatrics and Neonatology from Wessex Deanery and worked as a Consultant Neonatologist in the West Midlands from 2000-2005. His previous role was working as a General Paediatrician and Lead Paediatrician with Expertise in Cardiology (PEC) in Nottingham from 2005-2021.

Dr Thakker helped develop the only Paediatric Syncope service in UK during his time in Nottingham. Much learning from this service has been disseminated from posters, audits and research articles. He has an interest in patient safety having chaired the Governance Group in Nottingham in his post in Nottingham. He has an interest in analysing causes of patient related incidents. He conducted many National Cardiology study courses, BCCA conference and echo courses in Nottingham as well as hosting many MRCPCH clinical exams.

Dr Thakker was involved with lecturing, teaching and examining for the Nottingham Medical School as well as lecturer for the Nottingham University School of Nursing.

Dr Thakker has a longstanding involvement in the RCPCH exam board where he previously held the post of East Midlands Principle Regional Theory Examiner for the RCPCH and he is currently an active Senior MRCPCH clinical examiner and overseas examiner.

Dr Prakash Thiagarajan MBBS, MRCP (UK), FRCP (Edin.), FRCPCH read medicine in Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. He did most of his paediatric and neonatal training in the UK (Birmingham, Swansea and King's College Hospital London). He then completed a two year neonatal fellowship in Perth, Western Australia and went on to secure his first consultant position in New Zealand where he became a consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist and Senior lecturer in University of Otago in Dunedin.

Since 2005 he has been working as a consultant paediatrician and neonatologist in Noble's Hospital, Isle of Man. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. He is a specialist training assessor and Member, Council of Reference (neonatology) at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Dr Thiagarajan has an interest in healthcare quality improvement and patient safety in addition to his clinical interests in neonatology (Neonatal Respiratory Physiology, Newer Modes of Infant Ventilation, Neonatal Intensive Care Transport and The Application of Technology in neonatal Medicine).

To date, Dr Thiagarajan has helped and supported the Paediatric Virology Study Group (PVSG) since its birth and has been member of its academic advisory board. In 2016, he gave the plenary lecture of the ‘2nd Workshop on Paediatric Virology’ entitled ‘Zika virus (ZV) in pregnancy and infancy ‘What do the paediatricians need to know?’ and he was awarded with the ‘2016 Paediatric Virology Award in Neonatology’ for his outstanding academic, clinical, research and publishing contribution on neonatal medicine (9).

Dr Prakash Thiagarajan is a member of:

• CESR (formerly Article 14) assessments committee of The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand
• Advisory Council of British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
• Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association
• European Society of Neonatology
• Fellow, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• Fellow, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Some publications listed below:

1. Mammas, Ioannis N. and Thiagarajan, Prakash(2008) 'Water aspiration syndrome at birth - report of 2 cases', The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine,
2. Neonatal and Paediatric air transfers: The Isle of Man experience. Mammas I and Thiagarajan P Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) 97(12):1600, 2008 Dec
3. Pandemic Influenza: A teaching module – Published on Doctors.Net.UK and written in conjunction with experts from the Health Protection Agency and sponsored by the Department of Health- December 2005.
4. Highton, D., Thiagarajan, P., and Broadbent, R. S. (2002). The efficacy of trans-cutaneous bilirubinometry: A comparison with serum bilirubin in a New Zealand population.6th Annual Congress of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand and the 12th Congress of the Federation of the Asia and Oceania Perinatal Society (P132).
5. Broadbent, R. S., and Thiagarajan, P. (2001). Recipient twin limb ischaemia. Verbal presentation at the Perinatal Physiology and Medicine and the 28th Meeting of the New Zealand Fetal and Neonatal Physiological Society.
6. Highton, D., Thiagarajan, P., and Broadbent, R. S. (2001). The efficacy of Transcutaneous Bilirubinometry: A comparison with serum bilirubin in a New Zealand population. Proceedings of the University of Otago Medical School,157, (pp. A8).
7. Prakash Thiagarajan, Alfred Grauaug, Jeffrey Tompkins and Lyle Gurrin: 'Extremely Preterm Infants, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Home oxygen' presented at the Melbourne’ 99 conference of Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ). Proceedings of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand 3’rd annual congress
8. Broadbent, R. S., Thiagarajan, P., and Craw, S. (2000). Limb ischemia in twin premature neonates: Case reports and literature review. Proceedings of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand 4th Annual Congress
9. Thiagarajan P: Zika Virus in pregnancy and infancy - What do the paediatricians need to know? Int J Mol Med. 38:S642016.
   
   

Dr Sadha Punniyakodi is a consultant Paediatrician with special interest in diabetes and endocrine problems in children and young people. He started as consultant Paediatrician and Lead for paediatric diabetic service at Nobles Hospital since March 2019.

He completed general paediatric training in East Midlands in UK and did specialist training in diabetes and endocrinology in Leicester and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Dr Punniyakodi completed Master degree in Paediatric Diabetes at Warwick University.

Dr Van Der Merwe, Consultant Paediatrician, has been working full time at Noble's Hospital since January 2005 and previously the Lead Clinician in Paediatrics for several years. He is the service lead for the Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Unit, Cystic Fibrosis and the Named Doctor for Safeguarding Children at Nobles Hospital with an additional clinical interest in Paediatric Allergy.

He is a member of the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Affiliate Member of the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group and a member of the Child Protection Special Interest Group of the RCPCH. Prior to moving to the Isle of Man Dr van der Merwe initially undertook training in Paediatrics at the Red Cross War Memorial Hospital in Cape Town (The only dedicated Children’s Hospital in sub Saharan Africa) and has worked in South Africa, New Zealand and several locations in the UK.

Dr Liji Joseph MBBS, DCH, MRCPCH (UK), MSc, is the Associate Specialist at Noble's Hospital with a special interest in paediatric audiology. She graduated from University of Kerala, India in 1987 and entered the specialty of Paediatrics in 1987. After a thorough general training in Kerala she moved to Ireland to pursue her special interest in Paediatrics and trained at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda Children's Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin and Cork University Hospital, Cork. She joined the Paediatric Team at Noble's Hospital in July 1998.

Mrs Michele Moroney MBChB FRCOG, is the Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Noble's Hospital with a special interest in fertility problems. She graduated from Manchester University Medical School in 1985 and entered the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1986. After a thorough general training in Manchester and Sheffield she moved further north to pursue her special interest in infertility on the Assisted Conception Unit at Leeds General Infirmary. She took up her first Consultant post in 1996 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia before being appointed at Noble's Hospital in 1999.

In the 22 years that she has been in post she has developed and maintained the fertility services on the Island and has set up a successful satellite IVF unit with Leeds. She has also set up links with other mainland tertiary fertility centres allowing couples to have complex fertility treatments in the UK with the comfort and reassurance of expert local support.

In 2010, Mrs Moroney was voted winner of the 'Pride in Mann' Good Service (Public Sector) Award for her commitment to fertility services in the Isle of Man.

Miss Rehana Zaman, MBBS, MRCOG is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Noble's Hospital with a special interest in Colposcopy and Perinatal Mental Health. She is currently leading Colposcopy and Perinatal Mental Health Services.

Her basic degree and initial training was in Bangladesh and Nepal. She has been working in UK since 2004; she worked mainly in London and East of England deanery. She has completed advanced training skill modules on advanced labour ward, benign Gynaecological Surgery, Colposcopy and Medical Education.  She also completed diploma on minimal access and robotic surgery from Anglia Ruskin's University in 2017.

She is the immediate past chairperson (2013 - 2020) and currently in the advisory board for Bangladesh Liaison committee at Royal College of Obstetricians And Gynaecologists (RCOG), working on RCOG Global Health Projects.

She has been passionate about improving Maternal and Child Health Care in developing countries, especially her country of origin, Bangladesh. She has been organising Health Camps and on the job training for medical and supporting staffs in remote areas of Bangladesh and Nepal since she was a Medical Student. She has developed different training manuals on Primary Health Care on Maternity, Emergency Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Family Planning in Bengali for traditional birth attendants and maternity workers in Bangladesh.

Mr Tarun Ghosh MBBS, DGO, MD, DNB, MRCOG, is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Noble's Hospital with a special interest in 'Diabetes in Pregnancy' and 'Laparoscopic and Hysteroscopic Surgery'. He graduated from Calcutta University in India. After graduation Mr Ghosh undertook a post graduate diploma (DGO), degree (MD and DNB).

Mr Ghosh moved to the UK in 1997 and completed his MRCOG examination in 1998.  He worked in the North East of England and North Wales. Mr Ghosh completed his training from the Northern Deanery.

After to 2 years of locum consultant work Mr Ghosh joined Noble's Hospital in 2009.

Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (MBBS, DGO, DFSRH, BSCCP, FRCOG)
Clinical Governance Lead, Noble’s Hospital.

Clinical Interests

Gynaecological Laparoscopic Surgery
Advanced Labour Ward Practice
Colposcopy & Gynaecological Oncology
Clinical Governance and Medical Leadership

Professional Background

Mr Sinha graduated from Calcutta Medical College, India in 1996. He trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the University of Calcutta and moved to the UK for further training in 2003. He was awarded his MRCOG in 2005 and completed his specialist training from Dundee, Scotland.

Mr Sinha was appointed as Consultant in Furness General Hospital in 2012, where he introduced total laparoscopic hysterectomy. He has a keen interest in medical education and was the Foundation Programme Director and Chair. He is Colposcopy and RCOG ATSM trainer. He is also Clinical Examiner for the MRCOG Part 3 Examinations of the RCOG.

Mr Sinha also has extensive Clinical Governance and Leadership experience and was the Clinical Director for Women and Children’s Services for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust for more than four years before joining Manx Care in February 2023.

Outside medicine he has special interests in photography, travelling and enjoys cooking and sports. He is looking forward to work along with the team at Noble’s Hospital.

Mr Suresh Pai is an Associate Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology with a special interest in Colposcopy. Mr Pai graduated from India in 1986 and started working in Noble's Hospital in 1998.

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (MD, Dip (Obs), MRCOG, PG Dip MedSci in Clinical Education)

Mr Elfara graduated from Medical School in 1995 and has been working for the NHS in Obstetrics and Gynaecology since 1999.

He completed his higher specialist training programme in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (CCT) at Wessex Deanery in 2007 after working in London, Harlow, Dorchester, Isle of Wight, Bath and Jersey.

Over the past 15 years he has worked for more than ten different NHS trusts which has given him a wide range of exposure and extensive training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Following his CCT, he did a three year clinical fellowship in advanced infertility treatment and IVF at Manchester Fertility Services and at IVF Wales.

In September 2010, he was appointed as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with special interest in Infertility at James Paget University Hospital. During his clinical fellowships in reproductive medicine he gained comprehensive clinical experience in all aspects of the management of subfertility and assisted conception techniques.

Additionally, he is very experienced in gynaecological scanning and both hysteroscopy and laparoscopic surgery and also has extensive experience in the management of pelvic pain and menstrual disorders.