Press Expert

I have been fortunate to have been able to use my expertise as a GP within the media. It always feels like a privilege to be able to give comment in support of the NHS in various ways and I have done this so far for the Times, telegraph, guardian, inews the Mirror as well as GP specific media. This Morning was the first time I was in front of the camera as an expert, I then had the opportunity to do more TV interviews as well as radio with the bulk of my appearances being with Sky News following this. I love being able to help further information in this way and would encourage others, who want to do the same, to do so. I on average will spend at least 3 hours preparing, where relevant with good soundboards, whilst opting to do the interviews for free. I would have loved (would love) to have had an agent as sometimes you get cancelled last minute and I think you need someone that is on your side in the industry. I am very pleased that I have been able to speak for adequate PPE for doctors, for rational lockdown measures, empathy for the homeless and patient safety. Looking back, in terms of timelines, I very weirdly have been able to give my opinion on pivotal moments during our Covid-19 pandemic and I genuinely feel it helped a direction of travel that I think was good for us. It's lovely knowing I have had that opportunity during what already is a historic time. It’s actually lovely looking back and reflecting on this as I attempt to present some organisation of my work and what I’m about on this website. I have done one soapbox to my local newspaper about conservation and just putting it here as maybe it'll remind me to do more. I have much less resilience talking about safeguarding the natural world than I do about the NHS or medical problems. Where there may be a happy medium was being able to organise a respiratory essentials day with a climate change focus as a regional education lead for the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). Sustainable inhaler prescribing and understanding the impacts of the environment on our respiratory health is not something I was taught throughout training. It seemed to be well received and a good example to me where you can focus human self interest with nurture of the natural world.