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Meet the clinical team at the London Orthotic Consultancy

All of our orthotists are fully qualified and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and are members of the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO).

We adhere to a strict code of conduct and ethics, as laid down by the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO). The clinical needs of our patients are always our first priority and that’s why we aim to provide exceptional clinical care.

  • Sam Walmsley Director, Senior Orthotist (MBAPO)

    Sam qualified in 2001 with a BSc in Prosthetics and Orthotics. After graduating he worked in the NHS before becoming a founding director of The London Orthotic Consultancy. For 8 years he ran orthotic clinics at the Tadworth Brain Injury Children’s trust and Banstead Adult Brain Injury Centre…

    Sam has introduced several new treatments to the UK, most notably pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum. He has also introduced a video vector gait laboratory and started working with Elaine Owen, the world’s leading authority on lower limb gait and orthotic biomechanics. With Elaine, LOC has developed a gold standard orthotic clinic which we call the Optimal Segmental Kinematic Alignment (OSKAR) treatment of patients with lower limb neurological impairment. In 2017, Sam introduced a new unilateral club foot Cunningham brace to replace the boot and bar.

    Sam has earned a reputation for managing complex orthoses, such as the Neuro HiTronic stance phase control Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis (KAFO) and the Reciprocal Gait Orthosis (RGO). Embracing cutting-edge technology, he has integrated 3D scanning into LOC, transforming the patient experience by eliminating the need for casting; this is particularly beneficial for children.

    Sam has been instrumental in growing The London Orthotic Consultancy into a specialist, evidence-based orthotic practice that has world-leading orthotic treatments at its heart.

    Sam specialises in paediatric orthotics, complex foot & ankle orthotics, lower limb biomechanics, cerebral palsy and post SDR rehabilitation, post-polio syndrome, club foot and non-surgical treatment for pectus carinatum and pectus excavatum.

    Specialist skills

    • Complex neck & spinal injury
    • Upper limb
    • Pectus deformities
    • Knee
    • Ankle/Foot
    • Club foot
    • Cerebral palsy
    • Agilik smart orthosis
    • Post-SDR rehabilitation
    • Post-polio syndrome
    • Gait lab analysis
  • Anna Courtney Clinical Lead Consultant, Senior Orthotist (MBAPO)

    Anna graduated from The University of Strathclyde in 2014 with a first-class honours degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics, earning the prestigious Ossur Prize for academic excellence upon graduation. Her journey began with work at a rehabilitation clinic in Haiti, before moving into a busy London NHS Trust focussing on trauma and injury…

    Transitioning to the private sector, Anna joined LOC in 2017. She initially collaborated closely with Elaine Owen in our paediatric OSKAR clinic, where she specialised in neurological paediatric treatment utilising our on-site gait laboratory. Her groundbreaking findings from the gait lab were presented in Chicago in 2020.

    While maintaining her diverse expertise, Anna’s focus has shifted towards scoliosis bracing. She obtained a qualification in the Schroth method of bracing (Cheneau-Gensingen brace) in 2018 and has since spearheaded the development of our in-house LOC Scoliosis Brace. With a dedication to advancing scoliosis treatment, Anna has treated countless patients worldwide, elevating standards in scoliosis bracing on an international scale.

    Her pioneering work in scoliosis bracing has garnered international recognition – earning her invitations to present at esteemed academic conferences globally. Notably, her research was showcased at The Scoliosis Research Society conference in Seattle in 2023, marking a significant milestone in her career. Her contributions have also been presented at conferences held in Edinburgh, Melbourne, and Liverpool, with upcoming presentations scheduled in Boston and Bangkok in May 2024.

    Anna Courtney also runs the London Orthotic Consultancy’s Belfast clinic. Anna is registered with WPA Health Insurance and BUPA.

    Specialist skills

    • Scoliosis
    • Head injuries
    • Cranial remoulding
    • Neck & spinal
    • Upper limb
    • Pectus deformities
    • Knee
    • Ankle/Foot
    • Agilik smart orthosis
    • Gait lab analysis
  • Saeed Hamid Chairman & Senior Orthotist (MBAPO)

    Saeed qualified as an orthotist in 1990. He was senior orthotist at Queen Mary’s Hospital, London where he was involved in all aspects of orthotic management of adults and children. He has undergone extensive training in the orthotic treatment of plagiocephaly using cranial remoulding orthoses.

    Saeed specialises in the orthotic management of plagiocephaly, diabetic and orthopaedic footwear and foot orthotics.

    Specialist skills

    • Cranial Remoulding
    • Custom Insoles
    • Bespoke Footwear
  • George Coles Senior Orthotist (MBAPO)

    George qualified with a BSc (Hons) in Prosthetics and Orthotics from Salford University in 2015 with first-class honours. Before joining LOC in March 2019, he worked at Queen Mary’s Hospital and King’s College Hospital managing complex clinics including inpatients and outpatients.

    George specialises in musculoskeletal foot and ankle conditions, pediatric gait analysis, neurorehabilitation (upper and lower limb), pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum and plagiocephaly.

    George is a member of BAPO’s education committee and has been mentoring our apprentice orthotist Cat as she studies for her degree.

    Specialist skills

    • Cranial Remoulding
    • Neck & Spinal
    • Upper limb
    • Knee
    • Ankle/Foot
    • Custom Insoles
    • Bespoke Footwear
  • Jack Choong Senior Orthotist (MBAPO)

    Jack qualified from the University of Strathclyde in 2015 with an honours degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics. Most recently Jack was a clinical lead at University College London hospital (Specialist Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Centre) working within complex trauma, orthopaedic, diabetic and rheumatology clinics…

    Jack was also a senior clinician at Great Ormond Street Hospital treating spinal and neurological conditions (including post-operative SDR patients). A former member of the Education Committee of BAPO, he has presented at its annual conference on a number of occasions.

    Jack is experienced and specialises in hypermobility, scoliosis (both idiopathic and neuromuscular), ankle/foot, post-SDR rehabilitation and paediatric neurological treatment.

    Specialist skills

    • Neck & Spinal
    • Knee
    • Ankle/Foot
    • Custom Insoles
    • Bespoke Footwear
    • Agilik smart orthosis
    • Gait lab analysis
  • Joanne Drake Head of Plagiocephaly, Senior Orthotist (MBAPO)

    Joanne Drake is an HCPC registered and qualified Orthotist/Prosthetist based in Kingston, with a primary focus on the treatment of plagiocephaly, brachycephaly and related conditions. She is also a rare specialist who practises helmet therapy for craniosynostosis following endoscopic cranial surgery.

    Joanne qualified in 1998 with a BSc Hons in Prosthetics and Orthotics from Salford University. She began her career as a prosthetist at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore and later joined the rehabilitation team at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton, where she served as a Senior Prosthetist.

    In 2004 she left the NHS to specialise solely in the treatment of plagiocephaly and has become one of the UK’s foremost clinicians in all areas of corrective helmet therapy. Her expertise lies in the management of plagiocephaly, including repositioning techniques. She was instrumental in developing some of the first clinical protocols for plagiocephaly in the UK and, more recently, in implementing the use of cranial remoulding therapy post-operatively for babies with craniosynostosis.

    Throughout her career, Joanne has demonstrated a commitment to individualised care, tailoring her treatments to suit each patient’s unique needs. Her professional approach, empathy, and deep understanding of the challenges patients and their families may face enable her to deliver exceptional results and a positive treatment experience.

    Specialist skills

    • Cranial remoulding
    • Craniosynostosis
  • Professor Saeed Forghany Senior Orthotist BSc, MSc, PhD

    Professor Forghany has over 24 years of experience in orthotics and immediately prior to joining LOC was a Band 7.4 senior orthotist at NHS Wrexham Maelor Hospital. He is an HPCP registered Prosthetist and Orthotist and moved to the UK under the UK Royal Academy of Engineering scheme for Exceptional Talent in the field of Orthotics.

    His special interests include Gait Analysis, CAD/CAM, footwear and foot orthoses and positional plagiocephaly.

    He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Salford University’s Centre for Health, Sport & Rehabilitation Sciences Research. He is the joint author of numerous peer-reviewed articles in publications such as the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, Gait and Posture, and Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research. He has presented at Prosthetics and Orthotics conferences around the world.

    Professor Forghany heads up our Manchester clinic.

    Specialist skills

    • Cranial remoulding
    • Pectus deformities
    • Walk about orthosis
    • Knee
    • Ankle/Foot
    • Custom insoles
    • Bespoke footwear
    • Agilik smart orthosis
    • Gait lab analysis
  • Catherine Hendy Apprentice Orthotist

    Catherine joined LOC as an orthotics technician in 2017, having previously studied a BA (hons) degree in Art and Design.

    In 2022, the BSc (Hons) Prosthetics and Orthotics Degree Apprenticeship (Level 6) at the University of Derby was introduced specifically for the industry. Catherine is part of the first cohort to take part in the programme…

    It is a three-year course. Subject areas covered include anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, manufacturing processes and evidence-based orthotic practice. She is being mentored by George and shadowing other senior orthotists.

    Catherine is looking forward to using her technical background, as she transitions from our in-house workshop to being a qualified clinician.

  • Connor Mumford Senior Orthotist (MBAPO)

    Connor is qualified with a BSc (Hons) in 2016 and prior to joining LOC, worked for Steeper primarily with the South Essex Partnership Trust. During this time, he headed up the Royal London Spinal Clinic and worked with the Royal London Orthopaedic multi-disciplinary team…

    Connor specialises in the management of positional plagiocephaly, craniosynostosis, paediatric gait analysis, scoliosis and lower limb musculoskeletal injuries.

    Connor is registered with WPA Health Insurance and heads up our Cambridge clinic.

    Specialist skills

    • Cranial remoulding
    • Neck & spinal
    • Pectus deformities
    • Scoliosis
    • Knee
    • Ankle/Foot
    • Custom insoles
    • Bespoke footwear
    • Agilik smart orthosis

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