Meet the Team

Dr Helen Mcleish

MBCHB (2002 Birmingham) MRCGP, DCH, DRCOG, DFFP, Dip Palliative Care

I graduated from University College and Middlesex School of Medicine in London in 1995, I did my general practice training on the Cleveland scheme and my GP rotations at Whinfield Medical Practice. I liked it so much that I came back in 2002 as a partner. I have a special interest in End of Life medicine and Palliative Care. I am also the prescribing lead for the practice and as such attend regular prescribing meetings with GPs from the other Darlington practices. I am on the executive committee of Darlington Primary Care Network, which all the practices in Darlington are part of, working to improve the health of the whole population registered at out member practices including tackling health inequalities, improving screening for cardio vascular disease and cancer, and helping to increase resilience in primary care by working together in new ways to manage rising demand. I organises the 5th year medical student teaching within the practice. the 5th year students are in the practice for a 3 week block in the autumn term. I have 2 daughters who are growing up too fast, and 3 cats.

Dr Louise Russell

MBCHB (2002 Birmingham) MRCGP, DCH, DRCOG, DFFP, Dip Palliative Care

I have been a qualified GP since 2006 having studied in Birmingham before returning home to the North East to complete GP training. I have worked in varying practices across the North East until moving to Darlington in 2016. I am proud to be a single mum of 3 kids who take up all of my spare time and are the reason I work 3 days a week in the practice, spending the rest of my time being a mum. I love running when I get the time, and we have recently taken up karate as a family and are all thrilled to have our yellow belts! I am a quite relaxed and chatty GP, enjoy being a “family” doctor with the continuity over people lives and understanding the whole family dynamics. My special interests are with safeguarding especially domestic violence, women’s/children’s health and I am passionate about celebrating neurodiversity and championing patient-led care. I qualified as a GP trainer in 2020 which involves supervising registrars – fully qualified doctors who are training to be GPs- so you will often find me working alongside a trainee ensuring you get excellent care whichever of us you see.