Oxford Iron Clinic
Our Team
Oxford Iron Clinic
Our Team
Dr. Sue Pavord
Consultant Haematologist MB ChB, FRCP, FRCPath
Dr Sue Pavord MB ChB, FRCP, FRCPath is founder of the Oxford Iron Clinic. She is Consultant Haematologist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Associate Senior Lecturer at St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford. She is a well-known and respected haematologist with a national and international profile, and has over 25 years’ experience in clinical and laboratory haematology.
Her specialist areas of interest are obstetric haematology, anaemia and iron management, immune haematology and transfusion medicine. As well as the Oxford Iron Clinic, she established the OUH Iron Deficiency Management Service and is also Director of Haematology Laboratories at Oxford University Hospitals NHSFT.
She is a pioneer in Obstetric Haematology, having helped shaped this as a formal subspecialty through her clinical practice, research and education. Her authorship on several national and international guidelines highlights her pragmatic approach and focus on planning, anticipation, and attention to detail to prevent complications and ensure patient safety and wellbeing.
During the COVID-19 pandemic she was a key player in the identification of Vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) as a new syndrome occurring after vaccination. She was chair of the Expert Haematology Panel focused on VITT, which guided the UK’s management of this condition, reducing morbidity and mortality. She is a key opinion leader in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and led national consensus guidance on the management of adults with new and relapsed ITP during the pandemic, considering the mutual influences of these two conditions and the potential impact of standard ITP treatment.
Dr Pavord has authored more than 200 haematology research papers.
Sayma Raza-Burton, BNurs
Senior specialist nurse, BNurs
Sayma Raza-Burton obtained her Bachelor of Nursing degree in Manchester, qualifying as a registered nurse in 2008. She has over 15 years of adult nursing experience within the NHS, becoming a specialist nurse at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2012, and manager and senior specialist nurse in 2017. Her areas of interest include immunohaematology, anaemia and management of iron deficiency, as well as rare conditions such as microangiopathic haemolytic anaemias.
Dr. Mike Desborough
Consultant Haematologist BMedSci (Hons) MB ChB FRCP FRCPath DPhil
Dr Desborough is a Consultant Haematologist subspecialising in immunohaematology, obstetric haematology, anaemia and transfusion medicine. He trained in medicine at the University of Sheffield. He did his haematology specialist training in Oxford and doctoral and post-doctoral research at the University of Oxford. Mike is the chief investigator for trials including Desmopressin for procedures of Radiological InterVEntions (DRIVE) and Desmopressin for reversal of Anti-platelet drugs in Stroke due to Haemorrhage (DASH). He wrote the medical student textbook, Lecture Notes in Haematology 11th Edition, and is author of more than 80 haematology research papers.
Dr. Udeshika Weerabaddana
Clinical Fellow in Haematology and Transfusion Medicine
Dr. Weerabaddana is a Clinical Fellow at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She completed her MD in Transfusion Medicine at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo and previously served as a Consultant in Transfusion Medicine at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), Sri Lanka. She has experience in both clinical and laboratory transfusion practice, as well as in haematology patient care.
Her interests include anaemia, iron deficiency, and patient blood management. She contributes to the Iron Deficiency Management Service (IDMS), collaborating with clinical teams on anaemia management, and is also involved in the Immunohaematology service.
Dr. Weerabaddana has a particular interest in stem cell transplantation and is engaged with NHS Blood and Transplant in the therapeutic apheresis unit (TAS, Oxford), where she contributes to donor assessment and transplantation services. She has also been involved in national initiatives, including the Sri Lanka Stem Cell Donor Registry (SLSCDR – PRAANA).
Licences and certifications
- General Medical Council – Reg No: 8141636
- Sri Lanka Medical Council – Reg No: 35738
Dr. Paolo Polzella
Consultant Haematologist, DPhil, FRCPath
Dr Paolo Polzella is a consultant haematologist and specialist in iron, anaemia management and blood transfusion. He qualified at the University of Rome, with postgraduate clinical training at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He undertook a DPhil in cellular immunology at the University of Oxford.
Dr Polzella is currently consultant haematologist at Oxford University Hospitals, where he is lead for Patient Blood Management across the Trust, as well as the Iron Deficiency Management Service. He has extensive experience in the treatment of iron deficiency, anaemia and promoting best practice in transfusion.
