Meet the Team: Our Pain Specialists
Dr Charlotte Small
Chief Medical Officer
Consultant in Chronic Pain Management
Dr Giancarlo Camilleri
Consultant in Pain Medicine
Member of British Pain Society
Dr Marta Fernandez
Consultant in Pain Medicine
Shahbaaz Iqbal
Prescribing Pharmacist
At Leva Clinic, we're committed to helping you achieve sustainable pain relief without the unpleasant side effects often associated with the long-term use of traditional painkillers.
Our multidisciplinary team (MDT) of pain specialists is here to support you on your journey towards a better pain-life balance. Each team member brings a unique set of skills and expertise, ensuring comprehensive care tailored to your specific needs. Meet our wonderful team of pain specialists who set Leva apart!
Dr Charlotte Small
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Charlotte Small is a Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Chief Medical Officer at Leva and co-lead of the Wye Valley NHS Trust Pain Management Service. Dr Small started her anaesthetics training in the Royal Air Force and was previously the Virtual Reality Lead within the Academic Department of Military Anaesthesia and Critical Care.
She was the Chair of the West Midlands Trainee Research in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Network and completed a PhD at the University of Birmingham and an MSc in Pain Management at Cardiff University. She has experience in treating a range of chronic pain conditions and is the co-founder of the Skylark Project, improving access to care for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, alongside the Flying Child Project.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you.
Carter Crocker, Disney's Pooh's Grand Adventure The Search for Christopher Robin
Dr Marta Fernandez
Consultant in Pain Medicine
Having completed her Specialist training in the UK, together with a Master's Degree and Advanced training in Pain Management, Dr Marta Fernandez has been a Consultant in Pain Medicine for more than 15 years and has a wealth of experience dealing with patients with chronic pain.
She is an NHS Consultant at Nottingham University Hospitals and the Clinical Lead for the Chronic Pain Service.
She regularly manages patients with complex chronic pain conditions including persistent pain after surgery, back pain and sciatica, musculoskeletal pain, Fibromyalgia, EDS, headaches, migraines, abdominal and pelvic pain, cancer-related pain, and neuropathic pain associated with conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, MS, Diabetes, CRPS, post-surgical pain, postamputation pain.
She has expertise in multiple interventions for chronic pain and believes in a holistic, biopsychosocial approach to managing chronic pain. She places patients at the centre of their decision-making process and emphasises helping them understand their condition and develop strategies to manage their symptoms more effectively.
She is actively involved in research, teaching, and education, and has a special interest in medical cannabis.
She is a member of the Faculty of Pain Medicine, the British Pain Society, the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society and the International Association for the Study of Pain.
Dr Giancarlo Camilleri
Consultant in Pain Medicine
Dr Giancarlo Camilleri is a Pain Management Specialist with expertise in various aspects of pain with areas of interest in management of back pain, neck pain, chronic spinal pain, sciatica, sacroiliac joint pain or dysfunction, myofascial pain, chronic knee pain, and chronic hip pain. He is MSK Lead for Spine Services & Consultant in Chronic Pain Management at the Ashford & St Peter's NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr Giancarlo Camilleri qualified from the University Bristol Medical School, going on to complete further Specialist Pain Management Training in London, and completed his anaesthetics and chronic pain training in Oxford, Brighton and London. He is a member of the British Pain Society and Royal College of Anaesthetists and a Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine.
Tell us about three things that bring joy into your life.
I love playing touch rugby, DIY and cooking. Touch rugby keeps me feeling young and energetic. I love the problem-solving with DIY and looking back at things I have made or fixed. Food brings people together around a table and I love to bring people together in this way.
Dr Luisa Searle
Consultant in General Adult Psychiatry
As a member of the Royal College of Psychiatry with extensive experience spanning over 15 years, I've worked with diverse populations, understanding the complexities of modern Psychiatry. My background encompasses General Adult Psychiatry, Substance Misuse, and patients with multiple diagnoses.
I'm deeply invested in exploring novel treatments like medical cannabis, nutritional psychiatry, and psychedelics for treatment-resistant depression and chronic substance misuse. Embracing holistic approaches, I empower patients with a blend of conventional and unconventional treatments to foster better mental health outcomes.
Shabaaz Iqbal
Prescribing Pharmacist
Shabaaz has a background in pain management and mental health. He specialise in cannabis-based products for pain and mental health management as a Prescribing Pharmacist. At the clinic, his role involves supporting stable patients through repeat prescriptions and follow-ups under specialist guidance post-initial consultatio
