Dr Damon Kamming (FRCA)

Name : Dr Damon Kamming (FRCA)
Employer : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
University : University of Glasgow
Subject : MBCHB (with intercalated BSc in immunology)
Graduated : 1995

I worked in surgery and medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary during my house officer year. I then spent a year working in emergency medicine in Australia before returning to work emergency medicine in Glasgow for six months. I was then accepted onto the 27-month SHO anaesthetic training programme at the Central London School of Anaesthesia, during which time I passed the primary FRCA exam. After this I obtained a place on the five-year SpR anaesthetic training programme and passed the final FRCA exam. In my SpR year four I undertook a one-year clinical research fellowship in ambulatory anaesthesia in Canada before returning to complete my SpR training in London. I subsequently applied for a consultant post in anaesthetics with a specialist interest in day surgery.

Working life

75 per cent of my time is focused on clinical work. This is split between direct patient care in the operating theatre or in the pre-assessment clinic (PAC). For the remaining 25 per cent of my working week I teach trainee anaesthetists and medical students, and perform my managerial responsibilities for day surgery. I work around 44 hours a week and I’m on call one day in 20. I chose to go into this specialty because I feel it suits my physiology (I’m definitely a morning person) and my psychology (I’m very decisive). 

The realities of anaesthesia

There is a common misconception that anaesthetists are technicians who are confined to the operating theatre but this simply isn’t true. Anaesthesia is the single largest consultant body in the hospital and is involved in most aspects of surgical patients’ care. Anaesthetists can develop specialist interests including obstetric, paediatric, cardiothoracic anaesthesia, intensive care and acute and chronic pain medicine to name a few.

Life outside work

It’s important to maintain a good work/life balance and remember that you are working to live rather than living to work. I have been involved in providing script advice for medical shows Holby City and Bodies. I am a big music fan and can often be found behind the decks as the DJ at various departmental parties.

Most unforgettable moment

I broke my leg while I was out in Canada and it gave me a real insight into what it’s like at the other end of the needle. The comminuted fracture of my patella required two operations – one under general and one under regional anaesthetic. I instantly became an advocate of regional anaesthetics after experiencing all the miserable side effects of morphine after my general anaesthetic. I wouldn’t recommend getting ‘knee capped’ to anyone but it did make me a more insightful doctor, a better anaesthetist but a much worse skier!