“I started as a junior doctor at Aintree University Hospital, working in respiratory medicine, and I’ve been a Consultant since 2008. When I was studying medicine in London and training as a junior doctor in Yorkshire, I heard a lot of good things about Liverpool from my fellow trainees. How the people were welcoming, the culture was warm and how Aintree was a dynamic hospital to work in. It sounded as if it had the best of all worlds and I soon discovered that the tales were true!
I’m from Greater Manchester, so it probably doesn’t come as a huge surprise that I am a Manchester United fan . Some would say supporting Liverpool’s biggest rival whilst working in the city could prove challenging to say the least, but it is a huge reason why I love working here.
Football is in my blood, as it is for a lot of our patients. When I do my ward rounds and see my colleagues and patients on the ward we have some great banter and talking about football brings us closer together. Having that down-to-earth doctor/patient relationship is fundamentally important to ensure I deliver the best care to my patients and talking about something as normal and routine as football can help take a patient’s mind off whatever it is that has brought them to us, which can only be a good thing .
As a junior at Aintree I was under the watchful eye of some very inspiring mentors, which included Dr Robert Angus, Professor Peter Calverley and Dr John O’Reilly. Witnessing their passion for respiratory medicine on a daily basis made me fall in love with it too.
Being a Consultant in Respiratory Medicine is immensely rewarding but it doesn’t come without its challenges. Aintree is the regional mechanical ventilation centre. Ventilation is one of the two specialities I have branched into since qualifying. Some of the patients who have passed through the unit had been plugged up to and dependent on breathing machines for a long time. I cannot describe the immense feeling of pride and joy that myself and my colleagues in ventilation feel when we see a patient leave the hospital with the ability to breathe freely as a result of our work.
My second speciality is sleep. I see patients who frequently sleep walk and certain cases certainly raise an eyebrow. I have had patients tell me about them trying to cook while asleep or attempting to start the car. It is truly fascinating what the human brain can achieve whilst it is in a state of sleep. It is safe to say that my days are never boring.
I am looking forward to many more years at Aintree – I’ve had a great career here with so many memorable moments. I am humbled to work alongside talented and selfless individuals who improve the lives of so many patients each day.”