About our Team

Ruth Cowan Grad. Dip. Phys. MCSP - Practice Principal

Welcome to The Cloisters. I would like to introduce the terrific team of Physiotherapists who work here.
I have now retired from treating patients but still play an active role in the clinic’s management.
I started in Private Practice in 1983 opening initially at Coachman’s Cottage and moving to larger premises at The Cloisters in 1990.
It has been a delight and a privilege to meet and treat the people of South Warwickshire over the last 27 years.

Karen Smith Grad. Dip Phys. MCSP. MACP.

I have worked as a Chartered Physiotherapist for over 20 years, and joined The Cloisters in 1993.
Early in my career I began to specialise in treating spinal pain, eventually spending 4 years teaching part-time on an MACP course at Nottingham University.
I now concentrate on my clinical work at The Cloisters, and continue to specialise in problems associated with the spine, including work related upper limb disorders, which often have a spinal element.
I have also developed expertise in the treatment of conditions not often associated with Physiotherapy; headaches, dizziness and Bell’s Palsy are all conditions that can respond well to Physiotherapy.

Jackie Fleming Grad. Dip. Phys. MCSP. MACP. AACP.

I have worked as a physiotherapist at The Cloisters since 1997, and have a special interest in spinal problems and I have a Post Graduate diploma in manipulative therapy. Many of the patients I treat have neck or back pain, together with associated shoulder, arm, hip and lower leg symptoms. I also have an interest in RSI (Repetitive Strain Injuries).

Whilst treatment at the clinic will often include ergonomic advice, I also visit homes and places of employment to offer more specialised advice.

Other areas of interest include the treatment of dizziness, facial pain with associated postural problems and headaches, and post fracture treatment. I am also registered with the Acupuncture Association of Chartered physiotherapists and can offer acupuncture for pain relief.

Su Barry BSc. (Hons) Health Sciences. Grad Dip Phys MCSP.

I have been qualified for over twenty years and spent ten years working in the NHS before joining The Cloisters.
Whilst working as a Senior Physiotherapist in Coventry, I began to specialise in lower limb injuries, biomechanics and rehabilitation. I now have a special interest in treating lower limb injuries, and in particular sports injuries resulting from overuse.
I also have experience in treating patients following hip, knee and ankle surgery.
From 2004 to 2010 I worked for the English Women’s Golf Association looking at performance enhancement, injury prevention and sports screening.
Having gained a great deal of golf related experience whilst working with one of the England Golf Coaches, I am happy to treat golf related injuries and offer a Golf Screening Service at the Clinic.

Cath Heynes Grad. Dip Phys. MCSP.

I qualified in Manchester in 1984 and worked for the NHS until 1991.
During this time I developed my special interest in Neurophysiotherapy and worked as a Senior Physiotherapist alongside consultants treating a wide variety of patients following brain surgery, spinal surgery and with other neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), stroke, head injury and spinal injury.

I joined the team at the Cloisters in 1997 and assess and treat patients with neurological conditions at the clinic or, if more appropriate, on a domiciliary basis in their own homes.

I have also worked at Helen Ley Care Centre, the Amanda Bevan Head Injury Unit in Coventry, and Myton Hospice. I still work in the NHS in a local specialist community neuro-rehabilitation team and have a good knowledge of local services and links with other health care professionals.

I am a Bobath trained therapist and a member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Interested in Neurology (ACPIN).

Liz Norton Grad. Dip Phys. MCSP.

I qualified in 1985 and worked initially for the NHS in a number of hospitals in the West Midlands, where I developed an interest in the treatment of neurological disorders, both in hospitals and in the local community. During this time I treated patients with a variety of neurological disorders, including strokes, multiple sclerosis, head and spinal injuries and Parkinson’s disease.

Leaving the NHS, I became the Physiotherapy Manager at the Helen Ley Care Centre in Leamington Spa, where I developed the physiotherapy service.

I joined The Cloisters in 2006, where I assess and treat patients at the clinic, or, when appropriate, at their home. I am qualified to assess and provide Functional Electrical Stimulation to help people with a dropped foot to walk. I am also a Bobath trained therapist with a special interest in the treatment of Strokes and Multiple Sclerosis.

Margaret Longbottom Grad. Dip Phys. MCSP. MACP. AACP.

Having qualified in Coventry in 1986 I initially worked in the NHS in London, specialising in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

After taking a postgraduate diploma in manipulative therapy, I moved to Reading in 1995 where I took a senior position in the outpatients department.
Whilst working alongside shoulder consultants in the orthopaedic clinic, I developed a special interest and gained expertise in the treatment of shoulder problems. I then moved into private practice in the Reading area.

Since moving to Leamington Spa in 2008 I have worked at The Cloisters, where my main areas of interest are the treatment of shoulder problems, and back and neck pain. I have also taken a course in acupuncture for musculoskeletal problems.

I enjoy teaching and have a part time position at Coventry University as a visiting tutor, where I assist physiotherapy students and their supervisors on clinical placements.

Linda Heritage BSc Physiotherapy MCSP.

I graduated from Queens College Glasgow in 1991 with a B.Sc. in Physiotherapy and quickly developed an interest in respiratory medicine and breathing problems. I have specialised in the treatment of chest conditions and breathing problems for over fifteen years.

My main interests are the treatment of chest problems which result in the production of mucus, including bronchiectasis and chronic bronchitis (COPD). I also have a strong interest in treating conditions such as panic attacks, hyperventilation and asthma that result from the way people breathe.

I also have a wealth of experience in assessing fitness and developing exercise programmes for people with chronic chest problems.