Doctors
GP Partners
Dr Esther Birney
Dr Birney studied medicine at The University of Dundee, graduating in 2007. Over the next five years she worked in various hospital posts across Tayside, Perth and Angus, before returning in 2012 to her native Fife to complete her GP training here in St Andrews. Esther is involved in teaching medical students within the Practice. She holds a Diploma in Family Planning and is trained to insert and remove Contraceptive Implants and Intra Uterine Contraceptives.
Usual availability: Tuesday, one Wednesday per month, Thursday and Friday
Dr Jo Burgess
Dr Burgess was brought up on the west coast in Helensburgh, and studied medicine at St Andrews and Manchester Universities. She graduated in 1997, and completed her GP training in 2001. Her postgraduate qualifications include MRCGP, DRCOG, and DFFP. She was a GP Partner at a practice in Sale, Cheshire from 2001 until relocating to St Andrews in 2018. She considers herself to be a generalist, but does have interests in women’s health, child health and contraception, including contraceptive implant fitting and removals.
Usual Availability: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
Dr Callum Duncan
Dr Duncan was born and brought up in North East Fife, spending his childhood and youth in Ladybank. He graduated from Glasgow University in 1999 with MBChB, then worked in a variety of jobs in the UK, New Zealand and Australia with focus on Paediatrics and A&E. He trained as a GP in Edinburgh and received his MRCGP in 2007. He is married and has four young children. He is actively involved in teaching Medical Students. He works four days per week in the Practice and is a househusband the other three days. He is a keen sportsman and still hopes to fulfil his ambition to lead Scotland to World Cup Glory, although he admits time is against him.
Usual availability: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and alternate Thursday
Dr Anthony Hagger
Dr Hagger qualified from the University of Glasgow in 2010 (MBChB) before moving to Fife to work at Ninewells Hospital. He completed the Diploma in Child Health (DCH) from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2014. He completed his GP Specialist training here in St Andrews gaining MRCGP in 2015. He has a background in engineering having previously obtained a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh. He is a keen sportsman. He tries to fit in regular running and cycling, often commuting to work on his bike. More recently he has been drawn into the world of golf.
Usual availability: Tuesday, Friday and alternate Monday
Dr Nick Haldane
Dr Haldane graduated from Dundee University in 1999 with MBChB. He completed his GP training in Tayside in 2003. He is one of two GP Trainers in the Practice supporting young doctors in their training towards becoming GPs. Dr Haldane currently plays an active part in our Community Hospital work. He is trained to fit and remove Contraceptive Implants. Dr Haldane is currently the NHS Fife Lead GP for Cancer and Palliative Care.
Usual availability: Monday to Friday except Wednesday
Dr Samuel Healy
Dr Healy completed his medical degree at the University of Dundee in 2013, graduating with MBChB. Before this he completed an undergraduate degree in Anatomical & Physiological Sciences gaining BSc (Hons) from the University of Dundee in 2006. Given his surgical interests, Dr Healy completed Core Surgical Training in Wales and obtained his MRCS (Member of the Royal College of Surgeons) in 2017. Dr Healy then completed his GP training in the Fife and Tayside areas and obtained his MRCGP in 2021 and joined the Pipeland Partnership. His clinical interests lie in Men’s Health and Minor Surgery, for which he performs a regular surgical list of benign skin lesions for the practice. Dr Healy enjoys the outdoors and keeping fit, particularly running and spending time with his young family.
Usual Availability: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and alternate Thursday
Dr Lorraine McFarlane
Dr McFarlane completed her GP training with the Practice in February 2018 and joined the Partnership in March 2018.
Usual availability: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Dr Jonathan Nixon
Dr Nixon has worked in Scotland since he came to University in Edinburgh in 1987. After a few years working in Obstetrics & Gynaecology he moved into General Practice and trained here in St Andrews. He has been a partner in General Practice since 2003 and works full time. His clinical interests are broad, but include Diabetes, Cardiovascular health and Musculoskeletal problems. He enjoys looking for new challenges for the Practice, particularly with the application of new technologies to enhance the patient experience.
Usual availability: Monday to Wednesday, Thursday mornings and alternate Fridays
Associated GPs
Dr Morag Levison
Dr Morag Levison graduated from Manchester University in 1997 and completed her GP training in 2001. Her postgraduate qualifications are MRCGP, DRCOG and DFFP She was a partner at a GP practice in Salford for 22yrs before relocating to Scotland. She enjoys all aspects of General Practice and is a GP trainer, she fits/removes contraceptive implants and coils. She also fits ring pessaries to help with female prolapse problems. She joined the practice in August 2023.
Usual availability: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
GP Specialist Trainees
Dr Darcy Wilson (GPStR1) – Returning to the practice August 2025
Usual Availability: Variable Monday to Friday (Depending on Training Requirements)
Dr Alice McClung (GPStR1) – Joining the practice February 2025
Usual Availability: Variable Monday to Friday (Depending on Training Requirements)
Dr Callum Innes (GPStR3)
Usual Availability: Variable Monday to Friday (Depending on Training Requirements)
Dr Rachael Innes (GPStR3)
Usual Availability: Variable Monday to Friday (Depending on Training Requirements)