East Cornwall Senior Management Team

Dr Smitesh Patel

MBBs, BSc , MRCS (Lond.), MRCGP

Graduated from University College London Medical School in 2006. He relocated to Cornwall in 2022 following a decade of service in Essex as a GP and Clinical Director. He is currently a salaried GP based in Liskeard.

Driven by a fervor for enhancing Primary Care Networks, he aims to establish a consistently high and equitable standard of care. His approach involves employing innovative methods to create a sustainable model of Primary Care that is effective not only for the present but also for the future.

Outside of his professional commitments, he indulges in various interests, including reading autobiographies of popular culture icons. In his leisure time, he engages in activities such as walking, cycling, swimming, and takes pleasure in watching his children participate in rugby. He enjoys exploring the Cornish countryside.

Paula Varndell-Dawes

Paula has spent much of her career in the life science sector in a variety of roles including marketing, regional sales management and market access. She has also worked in commissioning, service redesign and most recently headed up the commercial development arm at the South West Academic Health Science Network.

Paula originally trained as a nurse and after qualifying worked across a number of specialities including surgery, cardiovascular medicines and urology.

Roland Gude

Roland has spent the majority of his career working in Primary Care having roles as a Practice Manager, Director of a GP Federation and Devon Training Hub as well as working for the Academic Health Science Network, Commissioners and now the PCN.

Before the NHS, he worked in civil engineering, project management, tax and accountancy.

Jodie Lewis

Jodie has worked within the NHS for 22 years as a Medical Secretary in Community Paediatrics and Senior Medical Secretary in the Older Adult Mental Health team in Herefordshire and Worcestershire Primary Care Trust before moving to Cornwall to work in the PCN.