My role
My role as a Consultant Medical Oncologist.
My role as a Consultant Medical Oncologist can be divided into various streams.
Main role
My main role is to provide a clinical service. I see newly diagnosed patients and recommend/supervise their treatments. I currently supervise care across 3 NHS hospitals through 5 clinics a week. In my NHS practice I am able to offer treatments that are reimbursed by NHS England/NICE. A comprehensive summary of treatments that are approved or are not approved for the NHS are available on the NICE website.
Private medical services
I provide services as a private medical oncologist. I conduct separate private clinics and can arrange treatments at a wide range of private hospitals or if appropriate at home. Patients can expect a personalised service with greater continuity of care. Scans and their reports are usually available without delay. Chemotherapy can usually be started with shorter wait times and greater flexibility to fit around your individual needs. Available treatments usually include all licensed drugs. Some of these may be approved by NICE for use in the NHS however, there may be licensed drugs that are not NICE reimbursed. Insurance companies usually cover any licensed cancer therapy however the exact details depend on your individual insurance policy. I am able to consult F2F or via encrypted videoconferencing.
Specialist Registrar Training
A Specialist Registrar is attached to my NHS service. This individual is training to become a Consultant Medical Oncologist and will see patients in my NHS clinics. I am involved in the training of this individual.
Clinical trials
I have a major interest in new cancer drugs and clinical trials. At any one time I act as Principal Investigator on a range of clinical trials at my centre. I have been involved in clinical trials of new cancer treatments including drugs such as afatinib, olaparib, osimertinib, brigatinib and immunotherapies like vaccines, nivolumab and pembrolizumab. My interest in clinical trials and the rate of new development in cancer mean that I often attend national and international conferences to keep abreast of the latest data.
Managerial responsibilities
I have a range of managerial responsibilities in my centre and county. At the time of writing I am the Research Lead for the Cancer Centre. I have previously been Chair of the Lung Cancer Tumour Site Specific Group for Kent.
National roles
I have a range of roles on National Committees. For example I am involved in the NCRI Lung Clinical Studies Group and NCRI Advanced Disease Subgroup. I have previously had roles in the Thoracic Surgery Clinical Reference Group and Joint Specialist Committee for Medical Oncology. I am a Steering Committeee member for The British Thoracic Oncology Group
Pharmaceutical industry
I interact with the pharmaceutical industry in 4 main ways.
- Many pharmaceutical companies invite me to meetings to seek my advice on the development of their drugs.
- I am often invited to speak at conferences or symposia. This is usually in a educational capacity.
- Pharmaceutical companies often support clinicians in attending important cancer conferences. I usually accept such support because the NHS study leave budget would not cover attendance at many of the key international cancer conferences. Their support is restricted to travel, registration and accommodation and is tightly regulated by the ABPI.
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I run a clinical trials programme at Maidstone Hospital some of which are funded by commercial sponsors. The hospital is compensated for this activity.
Interactions with the pharmaceutical industry are transparent and fully declared. All payments are now publicly shared – please see Disclosure section of ABPI.
Medicolegal Opinion
I take legal instruction to act as an independent medical opinion to The Court.