Meet the team at The Bridge
Kay Cartwirght
Care Centre Director
Kay has over 40 years of nursing experience and was previously a Critical Care Sister at James Cook University Hospital, this helped inspire her passion for caring for people with complex and respiratory support needs. She joined The Bridge in 2019 as Clinical Lead and progressed to Care Centre Director in early 2024. With an in-depth knowledge and expertise in neurological conditions, tracheostomy care and ventilation, she ensures a high standard of person-centred care is delivered through leadership, staff development and collaborative working across the team. Kay who has fantastic local knowledge enjoys working with a wide range of organisations and is involved in local focus groups striving to improve access to neurological care and rehabilitation across the region. She is a confident and compassionate leader who believes in developing her staff team to deliver exceptional care every day. Kay is committed to ensuring that The Bridge provides an amazing service to all.
Pauline Matthews
Lead Occupational Therapist
Pauline has acquired a wealth of experience over the last 13 years, specialising in cognitive rehabilitation, visual processing rehabilitation, longer term stroke rehab and rehabilitation of individuals with complex needs, including Parkinson’s. Pauline joined the team at The Bridge in late August 2108 and cares passionately about enabling individuals with neurological deficits to maximise their functional independence. She is also on the specialist neurological register with the royal college of occupational therapists, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to The Bridge. To promote quality of life, Pauline works with the residents on their Activities of Daily Life (ADL’s) and works closely with the residents’ family members to help educate and support them in adapting to changes in the day-to-day functional abilities and wellbeing of their loved ones.
Kirsty Allison
Occupational Therapist
Since qualifying with a Master’s degree in occupational therapy over ten years ago Kirsty has specialised in complex neuro rehabilitation, assessment, and complex discharge planning at a range of different hospitals across the area – specialising in neurology and stroke. This has given her an in-depth knowledge rehabilitating physical, cognitive, sensory, and visual and perceptual problems for patients in a range of levels of consciousness. This is an area which was always close to her heart as several of her close family members have neurological conditions which inspired her to work in this area. Kirsty’s personal experiences of neurological conditions has helped her gain a rich empathy for patients and carers, and the importance of family involvement in the care and rehabilitation process. Prior to this she worked in mental health services and with individuals with learning difficulties and complex physical needs which has given her a wealth of transferrable skills. Kirsty has a special interest in pressure garment therapy, which can be used to improve limb movement and postural support/specialist seating and she has completed a wealth of additional training and self-directed study in this area. She recently undertook training in assessment of those in lowered states of consciousness which inspired her to set up the sensory room at The Bridge. Kirsty is always seeking new and innovative approaches to therapy, and she enjoys seeing the positive outcomes this can achieve with residents. She also loves tailoring and planning therapy around each individual aiming to maximise independence and function and incorporating each resident’s interests and valued activities of daily living into therapy.
Mira Bou-Akar
Lead Speech and Language Therapist
A multilingual speech and language therapist with a Master’s degree and 10 years of experience in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, institutions for special needs, inclusive schools and clinics. Mira is a certified member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and a member of the European Society for Swallowing Disorders. She had the pleasure to lead speech and language therapy departments, contribute to developing effective SLT services, and work within multidisciplinary teams to diagnose and treat patients of different age groups ranging from neonate babies to elderlies. Her diverse experience in providing therapy for patients with swallowing and feeding disorders, communication and oral language disorders, dysarthria, aphasia and AAC implementation, degenerative disease, neurogenic diseases, learning difficulties, hearing impairment and fluency disorders, has sharpened her knowledge in pathologies of varied aetiologies and severities. Being multilingual made her very comfortable in engaging with multicultural patients and families. Her eagerness to grow in the speech and language therapy field has pushed her to pursue post-graduate certified trainings in “Lidcombe and Lidcombe Expert Programs”, in “Swallowing – Oral and Feeding intervention with young and handicapped child” and in “Dementia and Diversity in Primary Care: A Primer – Guidelines, Ethnic Differences, and Assessment”. Joining The Bridge as the Lead Speech and Language Therapist gave her the opportunity to implement her clinical and training experience within a professional, multi-cultural work environment.
Nicholas Dougherty
Lead Physiotherapist
Nick has been working in healthcare for the past 26 years. He qualified in 2005 having completed his BSc Hons degree in Physiotherapy from York St John University. He has worked in the NHS and independent sector gaining a wealth of knowledge in the fields of complex neurological rehabilitation for both traumatic and degenerative conditions and in the field of long-term ventilation. One of his biggest achievements to date was a national lead role within the community devising an airway management service. This supported complex ventilated spinal and neurological condition patients to return home after a period in hospital, ensuring a safe transition was safely maintained. Over the past few years, he has focused on the rehabilitation of complex spinal and acquired brain injury clients within their own homes and supporting their teams, allowing clients to reach their potential and achieve dreams by facilitating overseas visits and cruises safely. Nick is described as a passionate, well driven, and enthusiastic physiotherapist who strives to gain results from a collaborative client centred approach. Nick loves to spend time with his family travelling, experiencing new locations around the world, and dedicating lots of time towards his 2 Hungarian vizsla dogs, Oscar and Elsa, who have become part of the therapy team.
Hannah Wood
Clinical Lead / Deputy Manager
Hannah is a Registered Nurse for Learning Disabilities (RNLD) who joined The Bridge in 2021, bringing over a decade of experience from the NHS and independent sector. Her expertise in complex rehabilitation and recovery planning, supported by a strong commitment to governance, ensures exceptional standards of care. She is passionate about training, sharing skills, and creating a supportive environment for her team. Hannah feels privileged to work alongside residents, families, and colleagues who go above and beyond every day. Outside of work, Hannah enjoys gardening and often shares home-grown vegetables, a gesture that reflects her caring nature and community spirit.
Amelia Headlam
Physiotherapist
Amelia started her career in Health and Care in 2017 as a Physiotherapy Assistant for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. She went on to Teesside University to complete a BSc Degree in Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation and having successfully gained an MSc in Physiotherapy, qualified in 2023. As part of those studies, she undertook a five-week placement at The Bridge. It was during this time that she was inspired to join a team that works to bring about positive outcomes for people who have suffered life changing injuries, or have long term complex neurological conditions. Amelia has a keen interest in learning and implementing the latest and best physiotherapy plans. She particularly enjoys seeing the progress made by the people she supports through using the great facilities at The Bridge, including the hydrotherapy pool and well-equipped gym. A firm advocate of the link between physical activity and good mental health, Amelia has always been interested in sport and especially Netball, and whilst no longer playing she does enjoy walking and going to the gym in her spare time.