How long have you been a doctor?

15 years

Where did you train?

Sheffield

Where have you worked?

Hospitals in Sheffield, Winchester, the Community Dermatology Service in Hampshire, and running my own ‘Dr Pimple Popper’ lumps and bumps clinic called ‘Benign Intervention’.

What led you to become the current doctor that you are? What attracted you to your specialty?

After working in a very busy A&E department in Sheffield, which I loved, we moved back home and I finished another A&E stint at Winchester Hospital. In an attempt to calm down, but still enjoy medical challenges, I took a job in Dermatology which provided the perfect balance of medicine and practical skills.

What do you like most about practicing medicine and why?

I love the variety of challenges involved in trying to ‘fix’ peoples’ medical problems, which being a doctor provides. This taps into my love of puzzles and problem-solving, coupled with my practical skills such as surgery.

What aspects of practicing medicine have you found to be most challenging and why?

Working in A&E was incredibly challenging mentally and physically and I loved that, but the challenge of a sensible work:life balance was not possible or sustainable with all the extra-curricular activities that I wanted to maintain. Medicine in the NHS still feels like you are fire-fighting with less and less time in clinic to see more and more patients. I want more quality patient interaction and thinking time.

What is your philosophy with medicine and treating patients?

Always give your best but don’t allow medicine to chew you up and spit you out.  

How do you best collaborate with fellow healthcare professionals?

I love working in a team where there is plenty of (respectful) banter and fun to keep morale boosted. It’s good to support each-other in this demanding career.

What challenges do you feel doctors and fellow healthcare professionals are facing today?

It’s a challenge to keep morale boosted whilst fire-fighting the increased pressures on the NHS with diminishing resources and budgets, coupled with soaring patient demands and expectations. We are all feeling a bit squashed.

What are some of your greatest professional accomplishments?

When I’ve enhanced a patient’s quality of life. That’s what matters. I’ve done some exciting and dramatic stuff but that isn’t what counts and there will always be someone smarter or more skilled. It’s the positive impact you have on patients well-being which is the accomplishment.

How do you keep up to date with medical training and licensing?

I love learning so on-line courses are perfect for me, especially during the Pandemic. I hope we can restart face to face courses in 2022 as I miss seeing colleagues and want to maintain my practical skills and learn new techniques.

What has attracted you to working with Dr Chris and Nurse Emily and becoming involved with the Romsey Medical Practice?

Everyone at RMP has been so welcoming, professional and fun. Dr Chris and Nurse Emily are serious and respected medical professionals and I am full of admiration of their vision to create a good old-fashioned, patient-centred practice where there is TIME to consult patients properly. They are kind people too, that really comes across and in a time where the NHS feels increasingly hostile and unkind, I am so looking forward to leaving and joining this Dream Team.

What do you hope to accomplish in this role?

A feeling of a job well-done, with not only patient satisfaction accomplished, but development of my professional skills too.

How would you like to see the Practice in 1 year and 5 years?

We’ll have gathered a tightly-knit family of medical and allied professionals, all supportive of one another and able to flex and respond to the Practice’s demands in that first year. By year five RMP will be a respected establishment with a loyal patient population and there may even be one or two practices in neighbouring counties!

If you were to describe yourself in three words, what would they be and why?

Kind, fun, geek.

What is one goal you would like to accomplish in the next year (personal or professional, or both)?

To be able to play the piano again

Where do you see yourself in 5 and 10 years (personally or professionally, or both)?

Healthy and happy – too many people take these goals for granted

How did you meet each other?

Down the docks. He was young and needed the money.

How long have you been married?

It feels like a lifetime.

What’s your favourite thing(s) to do on your days off?

Beach walks with our Westies.

Where are your favourite holiday destinations/type of holidays?

Anywhere WARM where I can be outdoors, being sporty, visiting cultural sites or simply chilling out under a parasol (wearing SPF50 of course)!

What passions do you have?

Fast cars, opera and fun-times with those I love.