Dr Joanna Laddie

Dr Joanna Laddie is a highly dedicated Consultant Paediatrician specialising in Paediatric Palliative Medicine. She provides compassionate and comprehensive care for babies, children, and young people living with complex, life-limiting, or severe chronic conditions. Working alongside multidisciplinary clinical teams and community services, Dr Laddie focuses on holistic patient management that prioritises comfort, symptom control, and overall quality of life for children and their families.

Dr Laddie earned her medical degree (BM) from the University of Southampton in 2000. She went on to achieve Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) in 2003 and completed a Master of Science in Clinical Paediatrics at the Institute of Child Health, London in 2006. To further advance her specialist skills, she completed a Diploma in Palliative Medicine from Cardiff University in 2011 and a Diploma in Ethics of Cancer and Palliative Care from Keele University in 2013. She undertook sub-specialist GRID training in paediatric palliative care across leading tertiary children's hospitals and specialist hospices, and remains an active Member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

In her clinical practice, Dr Laddie possesses significant expertise in managing pain, distressing symptoms, and end-of-life care for young patients. Her clinical interests include parallel planning for children requiring long-term ventilation, managing care pathways for the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, and navigating complex clinical ethics and healthcare law decisions. In addition to her clinical work, Dr Laddie is trained in medical mediation and clinical ethics, using advanced communication skills to support families and healthcare teams through sensitive decision-making processes.