Career
My initial plan was general training/experience in
Glasgow & Kilmarnock with a view to entering GP in the Kilmarnock area.
However in the course of this ,having obtained MRCP , I developed an interest
in Haematology and changed track with specialist training in Ayrshire and the
Western Infirmary, Glasgow.
I was appointed Consultant Haematologist to
Northallerton Health Authority and York Health Authority by the Yorkshire
Health Authority in August 1980.
This was a newly created post with majority sessions
at the Friarage Hospital ,Northallerton where I was responsible for developing a full clinical service as well
as laboratory services to the hospital and G.Ps
in the area. The Friarage was a small DGH of approx 300 beds in Northallerton , the County
Town of North Yorkshire, serving a total population of only approx 120,000 ,but
in an area of over 900 square miles of beautiful countryside. Northallerton, itself, was only about 20,000
pop but a thriving market town - one set of traffic lights (for a pedestrian
crossing on the high street ) with an
excellent range of shops- and I was able
to walk to work !
The town has an 800 year history of hospitals, but the
present Friarage Hospital developed from EMS single storey structures built by
the Canadian Air Force in WW II and until 1974 was closely associated with
Darlington.
All the hospital departments were in the process of
developing services as a self -contained unit. Working with a small close-knit unit ,all having similar aims in mind made development and innovation much
easier. There was significant Consultant and G.P. involvement in management and
development of services within the District. Administrative staff/Managers could be counted on the fingers of one
hand!
Situated at the junction of the Yorkshire and Northern
Regions meant that I was able to liaise and cooperate with both regional
haematology groups, including their clinical studies, audit etc. With being such a large and far-flung district
,meant that close cooperation with , and involvement of , G.P. colleagues was
essential , and one that I particularly enjoyed.
Being single-handed had advantages but also drawbacks
and did cause pressures particularly in the earlier years. I consider one of
our most important achievements was that I was able to enlist the support of my
nursing, G,P. and administrative colleagues to establish a specialist nursing
post in 1984 to provide support to patients with haematological disorders ,and
their families ,in coping with their disease and its treatment. An additional advantage was
that the specialist nurse could also advise, educate and support the G.P.s and
their staff in the community. This model has since been adopted in many other
areas.
With increasing demands in Northallerton, and after
much discussion, and procrastination, between the two Authorities , I
eventually transferred whole-time to Northallerton in 1990. This also enabled
me to take up the role of Clinical Tutor at the Friarage within the Leeds
Deanery, a role which I found rewarding , and we made significant progress in
respect of JMS training and education, although some consultant colleagues were
more supportive than others. I continued this role until 1996.
Unfortunately, we could not remain as we were, and
outside forces / the “modern” NHS intruded more and more, and I was fortunate
enough to be able to leave work in March 2002, which happened to coincide with
the takeover of the Friarage by Middlesborough / James Cook University Hospital My old post has now been effectively
absorbed into JCUH and largely lost to the Friarage and local G.P.s, in some
ways back to pre 1980 !!
I was then able to be househusband which enabled
Margaret to devote more of her time to work and her own career , although she
is winding back down now.
I feel
that I/we have been very fortunate in our careers and that we have had many of
the best years of the NHS but I will be interested to learn whether those who
remained in Scotland also feel that the NHS is on a downward spiral.
