ABOUT US

Originally established in the early 1980s by Dr James Clarke, the International Spinal Injuries & Rehabilitation Centre has been based in the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital together with the Marguerite Centre since 1994. Both Centres are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Today the team includes around 100 members of staff who work together to provide rehabilitation and care to patients with spinal injuries, or following stroke, as well as those needing respite or intermediate care.

Dr James Clarke, Chairman

Background: Dr James Clarke is a retired General Practitioner who has establised and run flagship Nursing Homes, specialist rehabilitation services, at the International Spinal Injuries and Rehabilitation Centre since 1979. The move to the current site of the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, Aylesbury, Bucks, was made in 1994. Dr Clarke has focused his experience into the care and rehabilitation of those who have suffered head, spinal or other neurological/orthopaedic injury or damage. In addition, he has a keen interest in developing understanding and effective treatment programmes for people with eating disorders. He saw the potential of collaborating the services of the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital with the technology and work of Research Physiotherapist Don Gatherer to establish The Gatherer Partnership Limited, introducing for the first time globally, truly objective analysis in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of the neuromusculoskeletal system.

 
Jon Newton, Chief Executive

Jon joined the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital in 1995 following a career in general management and finance. He entered the private health care industry in 1982 when he became the finance director of the Chaucer Hospital, Canterbury and, subsequently, at Princess Margaret Hospital, Windsor. Since then, he has been the executive director of The Paddocks Hospital, Princes Risborough, Shirley Oaks Hospital in Croydon and Hillside Hospital, Ealing. Jon said: "Rehabilitation is a very positive branch of health care where patients are motivated to work hard to achieve their goals. It is a real team effort encompassing all the staff and the patients with their families".


James Diccon Clarke, Director

Diccon Clarke has worked in the field of care and rehabilitation for over twenty years and believes passionately in placing the patient at the heart of the rehabiliatation process and the efficacy of timely care and rehabilitation. He has helped to promote and develop the services of the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital in the UK as well as abroad and is interested in enhancing rehabilitation with new technologies and ideas. He believes that the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital is unique in being able to offer professional services in an informal and supportive environment. He lives in Wendover and has  a wide range of interests including running, technology, politics, and history.


Jan Sillitoe, Matron

Mrs. Sillitoe has held the post of Registered Manager of the Marguerite Centre since 1996 and of the Rehabilitation Unit since 2006. Her professional experience includes being a Registered Nurse with a Diploma in Health Studies, the ENB 998 (Teaching and Assessing Certificate), ENB 941 (Care of the Elderly Certificate), Registered Manager’s Award at Level 4 NVQ and over 25 years experience in spinal injuries,neurological and orthopaedic rehabilitation.

 
Eva Sobonova, Head of Therapy