Career
After
my general medical training in Bristol, Bath and Liverpool I initially
trained as a neurologist in Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Newcastle
upon Tyne. In the latter post I was lucky enough to train under Lord Walton
of Detchant, who is widely recognised as one of the world's leading
neurologists of the 20th century. After four years of training, including
completion of my MD degree (A study of the effect of hyperbaric oxygen
on chronic multiple sclerosis: University of Bristol 1987), I became
interested in neurological rehabilitation. Unfortunately at the time (mid-1980s)
there was no training at all in neurological rehabilitation and scarcely
any interest in the subject. Thus, I diverted into the pharmaceutical
industry as a clinical research physician in neurology working on antidepressant
and anti-epileptic medication. In summer 1986 I was reading the
British Medical Journal one day and noticed an advertisement for the
first training post in neurological rehabilitation based with Professor
Lindsay McLellan in Southampton. I was lucky enough to be appointed to
this job, which then led to a senior lectureship in neurological rehabilitation
at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. This enabled me to
complete dual training and in 1989 I was accredited in both neurology
and rehabilitation medicine. I worked for the next five years
as a senior lecturer/consultant neurologist and rehabilitation physician
before being appointed to the first Chair of Neurological Rehabilitation
in the UK in 1994.
After my initial appointment in 1989 I was responsible for the formation of the Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Centre at Hunters Moor Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. This became a nationally and internationally recognised centre of excellence for neurological rehabilitation and for the next 18 years I remained Clinical Director of the centre. In April 2007 the rehabilitation services moved to new purpose-built premises at Walkergate Park in Newcastle upon Tyne (www.ntw.nhs.uk).
Over the last 15 years or so I have had a number of senior NHS management positions. In 1992/93 I was Chief Executive of Rehabilitation North, which was a NHS organisation bringing together physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, chiropody and clinical psychology staff across Newcastle. Rehabilitation North merged with the Newcastle Community Unit to become Unityne Health in 1993 and, as Chief Executive and Medical Director, was responsible not only for rehabilitation and therapy staff but also community services within Newcastle, including district nursing, school nursing and the community learning disabilities team. In 1994, after yet another NHS reshuffle, Unityne Health merged with Newcastle Mental Health Trust to become Newcastle City Health NHS Trust. This was an innovative organisation, which brought together all the community services as well as psychiatric services in the city. I was Medical Director of Newcastle City Health NHS Trust, as well as Programme Director for Neurorehabilitation and Elderly Services.
In 2001 neurological rehabilitation services joined Northgate & Prudhoe NHS Trust and I remained Clinical Director of the neurorehabilitation unit and after a few years was appointed Medical Director of the Trust. This appointment lasted until 2007 when Northgate merged again and became Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS trust.
I left the NHS in January 2008 to work in the private sector and establish my own company -Hunters Moor Neuro Rehab Ltd and Barnes Cosmetic and Medical Clinic. I also now provide consultancy to a number of companies in the commercial sector.
