Andy Morris (MBBS MRCP FRCA)

Name : Andy Morris (MBBS MRCP FRCA)
Employer : Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust
University : St Georges Medical School, London
Subject : MBBS
Graduated : 1988

As a junior doctor, I gained broad experience in a number of areas including medicine, surgery, renal transplant medicine and accident and emergency medicine. I also spent time as a helicopter doctor, where I saw a lot of trauma. I recognised that I liked dealing with acutely-ill patients and seeing them turn around. Knowing that I wanted to do intensive care (IC) medicine, I switched to anaesthetics on the advice that this was the best route to take. As part of my training, I was fortunate to get an 18-month intercollegiate training post in intensive care medicine. I became a consultant in 1999.

Why this specialty?

I love the excitement and adrenalin. The non-clinical side of my job is a slower pace, while the acute side can be life or death. This latter aspect of the job means that sometimes IC specialists are perceived as aggressive. We’re not – we just have to work fast.

Working life

My week is split fairly evenly between intensive care and anaesthesia. I also do a significant amount of administration and teaching. As the lead for the new Modernising Medical Careers programme, I’m involved in setting up the programme for the coming year. While, day to day my work can be unpredictable, there’s actually a lot of flexibility in this area, which makes planning work and well earned breaks possible.

Best and worst

Working with distressed patients and their relatives can be very tough, but I enjoy being at the front line. I also enjoy the more routine work of putting in lines and drips. As the lead in this area, I’m enjoying expanding the service we provide.

Career path after medical school

• House officer rotations: Surgery – St Georges Hospital, London; medicine – Oldchurch Hospital, Romford.
• Medical senior house officer (SHO) rotation at Oldhurch hospital – during which time I took the membership exam of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP).
• A year of accident and emergency was followed by a renal transplant SHO post at Guy’s Hospital.
• Year-long SHO post in anaesthetics at Royal Free Hospital.
• Moved to Whipps Cross University Hospital to continue with anaesthetics and during this time took FRCA Part 1.
• Became anaesthetics registrar – Bart’s and The Royal London rotation
• Gained an 18-month intercollegiate training post in intensive care medicine rotation, spending time in Great Ormond Street, Royal Free, Bart’s and The Royal London, and Whipps Cross Hospitals.
• Achieved completion of specialist training (CCST) and became a consultant anaesthetist with an interest in intensive care in 1999.
• Lead Clinician for intensive care from 2000.
• Chose to work at Whipps Cross, where I felt there was scope to do a lot in intensive care medicine and develop the unit further.

Life outside work

When I get home and I’m not on call, I get on with my life. Outside work, I’m not a doctor and I try not to take work home with me. I try to do preparation for talks within my working hours, for example. Throughout the year, I take lots of short holidays and go abroad rather than holidaying at home. It’s natural that there are times when I do brood about something and think about patients. I have a very supportive partner (a dentist) who will talk things through with me, but I also know the bounds.

Getting into intensive care medicine

Quite a few people come up to ask me about getting into intensive care medicine. There isn’t a clear pathway as there is sadly still no CCST for intensive care. As a junior doctor, you will need to do a house job and spend some time in accident and emergency medicine. Then you will need to work towards a CCST in anaesthesia, medicine, surgery or accident and emergency medicine. The most straightforward route is to work towards a CCST in anaesthesia, which is more flexible in terms of training and works well for those needing flexible hours. As a senior house officer, you will also need to get at least a three-month post in intensive care medicine. There aren’t many stand-alone posts, but the number is increasing. You are encouraged to do the intensive care exams – either a British or European diploma.

Career planning top tips

• Take your time and don’t rush into any specialty – it’s common for people to change their minds about what they want to do in the first three years after medical school.
• Even if you’re sure about what you want to, gain more experience than the minimum needed and get experience in other areas of medicine. This added time helps you to gain maturity and a broader knowledge base. You need to avoid becoming a specialist registrar clone.