"Our medical school was unique, the training is very focused, therefore I was well prepared to move on after my training."
Tell us
what you have been doing since completing your studies.
I trained at Derriford Hospital
for my first two years, then embarked on surgical training with Northwest
Deanery. I rotated through Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn doing ENT and plastic surgery. At the end of the training, I changed my mind, and wanted to
become a GP, mainly due to better work life balance and due to the ability of
having a portfolio career. My wife and I went on a holiday to Loch Lomond in
Scotland, we fell in love with rural, breathtakingly beautiful Scotland. I then
decided to become a rural GP in Scotland. My first post was in Orkney, far
north of Scotland, where I managed a rural hospital’s medical and surgical admissions,
covering the wards. I then spent my training in Beauly, Inverness and Elgin,
finally passing the MRCGP in 2014.
I was a salaried GP in Elgin, but I was keen
on partnership. I took over the partnership in lovely Dunoon, set in gorgeous
Argyllshire. I am a very active GP, I am passionate about out of hours care, so
still do most of the weekend covering out of hours, on top of my four days a
week partnership working. I am involved in the local medical committee for the
Cowal Peninsula. I was an external examiner for University of
Liverpool medical school, but have recently become a tutor for University of Glasgow medical students.
Has your career path changed since graduation?
I wanted to be a ENT surgeon when
I started my medical career but after an epiphany, I changed my career to GP
and I never looked back!
What is
the most difficult thing which you have faced in your career?
The most difficult situation for me, after
all these years, was breaking bad news to my patients. I went to an amazing
medical school, I was trained by the best, trained well in communication
skills, patient skills, but still it hits me hard, every time I break the bad
news. It has been more difficult when I knew the entire family. I also find it
difficult to make decisions about the end life of patients, whom I do not know
before, while I am doing out of hours.
What is
the best, most exciting or fun thing that you have done in your career?
I was accompanying a patient from Orkney in a
small plane to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, and we flew through a mini storm! It
was scary but fun as I thought I was riding on a roller coaster, lot of adrenaline
rush!
What, if
anything, would you do differently if you could?
I wish I could have decided on GP training
earlier on, so that I would have stayed in the West Country. However, now I am living
in a lovely place in Scotland, I do not have any regrets.
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to get in to the same line
of work?
I came to Peninsula Medical School as a mature student. It was hard
work but it really paid off. I would advise anyone who wants to do medicine, to
commit to their dream, work hard, stick at it. To the medical student, I will
advise to be open about their career choice. I would ask them to do GP rotation
and become one. My surgery is like a “box of chocolates”, there is no dull
moment!
How did studying at Plymouth help you?
Our medical school was unique,
the training is very focused, therefore I was well prepared to move on after
my training.
What is your favourite memory of studying at Plymouth?
Getting married to my wife.
Do you stay in touch with other Plymouth University alumni or lecturers?
Yes, via Facebook. Amazing
stuff.
Tell us
about your time in Plymouth
Plymouth is an amazing city. It is a vibrant
student city, and the University has grown massively, gaining recognition across the world. I liked the building, the gym and the library. The welfare of the
students was very good, I found the staff very caring and supportive. I had an
amazing time at the medical school, if I had another chance, I would do it
again.
Is there anything else which you would like to share with our current
students?
Enjoy the studies. Work hard,
party hard, but make University of Plymouth proud!