About us
A small practice, on purpose
Ruth Atkinson opened Northfield in 2009, in two rooms above a bike shop, after twelve years in the NHS. She wanted the thing she could never give people at the hospital: time. A full hour for a first visit, the same physiotherapist every time, and a plan you understand. We moved to Otley Street in 2016 and now have three treatment rooms and an exercise room with wall bars, mats and enough space to practise what we ask you to do at home. Most of our patients come from Skipton and the villages around it, and a fair few from further up the Dales. We stay small so we can keep knowing people by name.
Ruth Atkinson, founder
The team
Who you will see
All three of us are chartered physiotherapists, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Ruth Atkinson
Founder, back and neck pain
Trained in Manchester and spent twelve years at Airedale General, the last five leading its spinal outpatient service. Treats back and neck pain, sciatica and the long-standing problems that have not settled elsewhere. Acupuncture trained.
Claire Whitaker
Musculoskeletal and post-surgery rehabilitation
Joined in 2014 from Harrogate District Hospital, with an MSc in advanced physiotherapy from Leeds. Sees most of our patients after joint replacements and ligament surgery, and runs the desk assessments.
Tom Ridley
Sports injuries
Joined in 2019 after four years with a Super League rugby club. Physio to Skipton RUFC on Saturdays, fell runner on Sundays, and the person to see when you want to get back to your sport, not just out of pain.
Northfield in numbers
- 17
- years on Otley Street and before itOpen since March 2009.
- 6,400
- patients treatedFrom Skipton, the villages and the Dales.
- 9
- qualifications between usDegrees, a master's and postgraduate courses.