Professional Registration
GMC number 6040325: On the Specialist Register for Otolaryngology (ENT) since 28th July 2012 http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/register/LRMP.asp
MDU membership number 381511E
Education and Qualifications
2011 FRCS (ORL-HNS) Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
2010 Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education for Surgeons (PgCertMEd), University of Dundee
2008 Diploma in Child Health (DCH), Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
2008 MRCPCH Part 1a and 1b Examinations, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
2005 MRCS Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
2005 DO-HNS Diploma in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of England
2003 MA Medical Sciences, Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge
2001 MB BChir (Pass with Distinction), University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine
1999 BA (Hons) Medical Sciences, Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge
NHS Consultant Position
Consultant Otolaryngologist, Head And Neck Surgeon, Guy’s And St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
January 2013 onwards
This full-time, substantive post involves all aspects of paediatric otolaryngological practice, including a full range of elective and emergency cases, working alongside four other Paediatric ENT consultants. On-call commitments also include the management of emergencies in adults, but otherwise my practice is predominantly paediatric.
This tertiary referral unit is among the largest and busiest of its type in the UK, serving a catchment population of several million, including South London and the Home Counties down to the South Coast. The majority of our patients have complex medical and/or developmental needs. These include large numbers referred from our own and other Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units, plus other subspecialist services including paediatric cardiothoracics and neurosurgery. This necessitates excellent working relationships both within this Trust and with colleagues at other units.
We aim to provide evidence-based, integrated care of the highest quality, individualised for each patient. Paediatric airway management is central to our practice, covering a range of pathologies including adenotonsillar hypertrophy and obstructive sleep apnoea, congenital and acquired laryngeal, subglottic and tracheal disease. The unit forms part of an airway MDT with colleagues from paediatrics, respiratory, intensive care and sleep medicine services, working in parallel with speech and language therapists and nurse specialists. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive paediatric otology service, including management of chronic otitis media, tympanomastoid disease and cochlear implantation. We also manage a range of congenital and acquired disease of the head and neck.
In addition to these commitments, I am in charge of clinical research within the Department, and I have recently completed three commissioned book chapters and a number of peer-review journal articles. These include the first large prospective case series of intracapsular tonsillectomy (tonsillotomy) from the UK, recently published in Clinical Otolaryngology click here to view.
I also have responsibilities for education of trainees, acting as an educational supervisor, and for service development. I was previously appointed as a Training Programme Director for Speciality Training in ENT for South London, with particular responsibilities for the senior trainees.
I am a Council Member of the British Association for Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology (BAPO), and I represent BAPO on the Children’s Surgical Forum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. I am also a member of the British Thoracic Society children’s sleep disorders working group, working towards UK-wide guidelines.
I have lectured nationally and internationally, covering a wide range of areas of paediatric ENT.
Subspeciality Fellowship in Paediatric ENT
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London
October 2011-October 2012
Overview
This fellowship provided outstanding experience of all aspects of paediatric otolaryngology, particularly paediatric airway disease, alongside research and educational commitments. I worked very closely with five consultants, one other fellow and four specialist registrars, with responsibilities for the day-to-day inpatient management of children within the department, most with significant co-morbidities.
Surgical experience
Clinical work included comprehensive operative experience. Under consultant supervision, I undertook most procedures as first operator and oversee training of the specialist registrars. Typical elective operating lists included airway endoscopy [600-700 cases in the department per year] and airway surgery (endoscopic and open, including laryngotracheal reconstruction [20 per year], cricotracheal resection [5 per year] and laryngeal cleft repair [10 per year]), head and neck procedures for developmental and acquired pathology [100 per year], adenotonsillar surgery, predominantly for sleep apnoea in high risk patients [250 per year], middle ear and mastoid surgery, and cochlear implantation [100 implants per year]. Additionally, cases were regularly referred on an urgent basis for diagnostic endoscopy, foreign body retrieval and tracheostomy [30 per year].
Clinical, MDT and management
I participated in a number of outpatient sessions, including subspecialist paediatric voice, craniofacial, cleft, and microtia clinics, and multi-disciplinary meetings (airway, tracheal team and cochlear implants). I frequently provided airway opinions regarding patients from other departments (particularly for the paediatric, neonatal and cardiac intensive care units). I co-ordinated referrals and retrievals from other hospitals and I helped to manage daily admissions and operating lists, requiring very close collaboration both within our department and with a number of allied teams. I also provided pastoral care for junior colleagues.
Education and research
I designed and led number of clinical research projects, as well as ongoing audits within the department. I had responsibilities for arranging our educational programme, including regular morbidity and mortality meetings, and also for supervising and teaching trainees, visitors and other staff. I was invited to provide presentations for other departments, at grand rounds and at London Deanery Specialist Registrar training days (for Otolaryngology and Plastic Surgery). I was also a faculty member for an AAGBI ENT anaesthesia update course.
Fellowship objectives
My objectives during this period were to consolidate the skills necessary to work as a consultant paediatric otolaryngologist, building upon my existing surgical training. Aside from excellent clinical and operative experience, the fellowship enabled me to expand my abilities in other areas, including communication, teaching, leadership, management and research, facilitating my transition to independent practice.
Higher Surgical Training in ENT (Otolaryngology)
Specialist Registrar, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford: April 2011-October 2011
Subspeciality otology/neurotology.
Specialist Registrar, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London: October 2010-April 2011
Subspeciality paediatric otolaryngology.
Specialist Registrar, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford: October 2009-October 2010
Subspeciality head and neck oncologic surgery and otology/neurotology.
Specialist Registrar, St George’s Hospital, London: October 2008-October 2009
Subspeciality head and neck oncologic surgery and implant otology.
Specialist Registrar, Basingstoke and Frimley Park Hospitals: October 2007-October 2008
General adult and paediatric ENT.
Specialist Registrar, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford: October 2006-October 2007
Subspeciality otology/neurotology and rhinology/facial plastics.
Specialist Registrar, University Hospital, Lewisham, London: May 2006-October 2006
General paediatric ENT, rhinology/facial plastics and benign head and neck surgery.
Prizes
2018 BAPO annual scientific meeting, London: Susanna Leighton prize for best oral presentation.
2016 Hartopp Dixon Prize: prize for best oral presentation
2015 Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust CARE award (April 2015)
2015 Australian Otolaryngology Head and Neck Society annual acientific meeting Sydney: Jean Littlejohn Prize for best oral presentation
2014 BAPO annual scientific meeting, Cambridge: prize for best oral presentation.
2012 Bethany Mount Award lecture series, Great Ormond Street Hospital: second prize.
2011 BAPO annual scientific meeting, Oxford: prize for best poster presentation.
2001 University of Cambridge, Final MB Medicine: pass with distinction.
Other achievements
Rowing Cambridge Blue, Oxford vs Cambridge University Boat Race 2000
Henley Royal Regatta winner with Cambridge University 1999
Great Britain World Junior Championships squad 1995
Running London Marathon 2002, on behalf of the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability
