Meet the Team

Our Doctors

Dr Michael Eaves
Senior Partner

GMC No. 3587489 BCs, MBChB, DRCOG, DFFP Registered Leicester 1992

Qualified from University of Leicester in 1992. Joined Empingham Medical Centre in 1997.

Special interests include Dermatology, Therapeutic Hypnosis, Cardiology, Joint Injections, Minor Surgery and Medical Student Teaching.

Dr James Thorpe
GP Partner

GMC No. 4628554 BSc, BMedSci, BMBS, MRCS, MRCGP Registered Nottingham 1999

Qualified from University of Nottingham in 1999. Joined Empingham Medical Centre in 2011. Special interests include Joint injections, Men’s Health and Medical Student Teaching.

Dr Dave Steadman
GP Partner

GMC No. 7149319 BA (Hons) MB ChB (Hons) MRCGP Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of Leicester

Qualified from Leicester Medical School in 2011. Joined Empingham Medical Centre in 2022. Special Interests include Otolaryngology (ENT) and Medical Student Education.

Dr Lois Jacques
Salaried GP

GMC No. 6122346 MBChB, MRCGP, DRCOG, DFSRH Registered Birmingham 2005

Qualified from University of Birmingham in 2005.  Has been a GP since 2010. Joined Empingham Medical Centre in August 2021 and works 4 days a week. Special interests include Women’s Health and Child Health.

Dr Jane Ince
Salaried GP

GMC No: 4196264 MBChB, MRCGP, DRCOG, DFFP Registered Birmingham 1995

Qualified from the University of Birmingham in 1995. Has been working as a GP since 2000. Joined Empingham Medical Centre in February 2022 and works 3 days a week. Enjoys all aspects of Primary Care but has a particular interest in Women’s Health, Endocrinology and the mental well-being of young people. 

Dr Sharon Brackenbury
Salaried GP

GMC No: 4278997 MBChB, DRCOG, DCH, MRCGP Registered Birmingham 1996

Qualified from University of Birmingham in 1996. Has been working in practices in Peterborough for the last 14 years, this has included primary care roles in mental health, diabetes care and medical student training. Joined Empingham Medical Centre in December 2022 and works 4 days a week.

Our Nursing Team

Julie Hunt
Advanced Nurse Practitioner

I joined Empingham Medical Centre in October 2006; prior to this I had worked for the Out of Hours Service and 3 GP Practices in Peterborough.

I completed my Nurse Practitioner Degree and extending Nurse Prescribing at the University of East Anglia in 2002 and completed a post-graduate diploma in First Contact Care in 2007 at Sheffield University.

I also have Diplomas in Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, Heart Failure & Asthma. Specialist area: I am the Diabetes lead at Empingham Medical Centre.

Mike Wise
Advanced Nurse Practitioner

I commenced working at Empingham in 2021 after working for a year in Primary Care in Grantham. Originally from Coventry, I completed my adult training at University College Hospital in London and worked in Accident and Emergency.

I then undertook paediatric training  at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children and worked there for the majority of my career. 

After working in intensive care and on a renal unit I undertook my advanced nurse practitioner training and managed the care of sick children throughout the hospital. A recent move to Rutland brought about a career change and a return to adult care, however, I still have a great interest in paediatrics and always enjoy seeing babies and children when I can. I also have an interest in men’s health and LGBT issues.


Bev Buckle
Practice Nurse

I completed my nursing degree at the University of Surrey in 1996. I joined Empingham Medical Centre in May 2012 and I currently work 2 days a week. I have a Diploma in Asthma Management.

Julie Fuller
Practice Nurse

I qualified as a registered nurse from Homerton School of Health Studies in 2007. I have worked in acute medical and surgical environments. My career in practice nursing commenced in 2015.

I successfully completed an Asthma Diploma in 2016, I am able to advise patients with their Asthma Management to optimise their control. I joined the team at Empingham Medical Centre December 2022.  As a treatment room nurse I deliver anticipatory and preventative care whilst working within the Royal College of Nursing’s code of professional conduct.

Colette Neal
Practice Nurse

I qualified as an RGN in 1986, having studied at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital. I have worked in a variety of nursing settings, including A&E, geriatric care, surgery in the private sector and was a school nurse for several years before getting into general practice in 2008.

I have relocated several times, moving to Stamford in 2012 and joined Empingham Medical Centre in December 2022.

My job is varied. I run clinics that include childhood immunisations, travel health, warfarin, contraception, dressings, ear syringing, cytology, ECGs, phlebotomy and diabetes.

I gained a Certificate in Advanced Skills in Contraception and Sexual Health at John Moore’s University in Liverpool. I am interested in Holistic Therapies, having a Diploma in Reflexology and Certificates in Swedish Body Massage, Mesotherapy, Indian Head Massage, Hopi Ear Candling and Hot Stone Massage.


Shirley Hodges
Healthcare Assistant

I joined Empingham Medical Centre in September 2012. My role includes Phlebotomy, ECGs, 24hr BP monitors, Spirometries, Health Checks, Ear Syringes, Dressings and Diabetic Foot Checks.

Tina Cowling
Healthcare Assistant

I have worked in healthcare most of my working life. I started out working on a medical ward in 1984 at Peterborough Hospital, moved to Kettering in 1991 working in a care home for a number of years before going to work at Kettering General Hospital on the eye department.

This involved outpatients, the ward and theatres. I also worked on the bank at weekends, working on various different wards.

After a few years at Kettering, I moved back to Peterborough and worked in a private hospital on outpatients for some years before moving onto a GP surgery. I worked there for over 4 years  before moving to Empingham Medical Centre. I have gained experience in various different areas but particularly enjoy wound care. 

Our Practice Team

Vikki Hughes
Practice Manager

I joined Empingham Medical Centre in 2019 as Patient Services Manager after spending 5 years working as Rutland’s Integrated Care Coordinator. 

Having gained a wealth of experience and knowledge in a very short space of time. I have recently taken up the post of Practice Manager within the surgery. 

Carole Britten
Nurse Manager

I started my nurse training aged 18years at Peterborough and Stamford hospital trust.

After qualifying I spent 20years working on various wards including gynaecology, urology, surgery, orthopaedics and general medicine.

In 2005 I left the hospital environment to work in primary care. Firstly in the prison setting gaining assessment skills to work in clinics and drug detoxification knowledge, I then entered a busy GP surgery in Stamford. After gaining qualifications in practice nursing skills and later an Asthma diploma from Edgehill University, I worked as a practice nurse until I took on the role of lead nurse in 2015. I set up the AQP service in Stamford Sheepmarket, having a keen interest in developing new services to benefit our community. In 2017 I became nurse manager in Stamford Lakeside until Dec 2019. In Jan 2020 saw me taking on a new nursing direction in private healthcare, gaining another insight into patient care at The Fitzwilliam and Spamedica hospitals.

I returned to managing in Primary care in 2022 when I joined the nursing team at Empingham. My drive is to improve access to services for our patients and ensure safety at all times ensuring RCN’s code of professional conduct is followed. I constantly look to improve services and delivery of patient care whilst ensuring Infection Prevention and Control guidance is followed.

Ruth Broughton
Dispensary Manager

I joined Empingham Medical Centre as Dispensary Manager in 2020. I am a registered Pharmacy Technician with 20 years of experience in both retail pharmacy and general practice.

Gill Heasell
IT & Data Support Manager

I joined Empingham Medical Centre in 2009 as part of the reception team.  I have embraced all the various changes within the team and to my role in particular and I am now the IT & Data Support Manager.

I have transformed the IT role into one where IT issues are seen as challenges not problems and the business has seen great strides forward as a result.

Hayley Wren
Patient Services Manager

I started my career in Primary care in February 2013 as a receptionist at The Sheepmarket Surgery. After gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience I went on to become a Team Leader in both the Reception and Admin departments.


My career started at Empingham Medical Centre in November 2022 where I started as a Data Administrator, soon realising how much I missed face to face contact with our patients and managing a team I took on the role of Patient Services Manager here at Empingham Medical Centre.