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 Susudu Jeewani Jayanetti

Clinical Fellow MBBS MD

Clinical Fellow in Transfusion Medicine and Iron deficiency management.

MBBS, Diploma in Transfusion Medicine, MD in Transfusion Medicine, Post Graduate Institute of medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Dr Jayanetti is currently working as a Clinical Fellow in Transfusion Medicine in Oxford University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust and recently as Consultant in Transfusion Medicine in three leading hospitals under National Blood Transfusion Service, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka.

Her special interests include anaemia, iron deficiency, immunohaematology and stem cell transplantation. She plays a key role in the haematology and Iron Deficiency Management Services, where she is dedicated to the care of patients with various haematological conditions to ensure optimal patient safety and wellbeing. 

In addition, she is engaged in the management of patients in the Immunohaematology service and the therapeutic apheresis unit (TAS), Oxford. She is also enrolled in the stem cell donor assessment programme.

Licences and certifications

  • General Medical Council- Reg No: 7972890                         
  • Sri Lanka Medical Council- Reg No: 28842

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.