Trisha is a doctor who works on the wards of two NHS hospitals in Surrey, looking after older patients. Her proper title is Specialty Doctor in Medicine for the Elderly – a specialty also know as Geriatrics. For two days a week she works alongside nurses and therapists in a small rehabilitation hospital (Milford Hospital) where people are recovering from major illness and operations. She also spends another two days at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford where she might be found in the Emergency Assessment Unit or on the wards helping to diagnose and treat all sorts of disease, from pneumonia or stroke, to broken hips or abnormal heart rhythms. Every day is different! Her particular clinical interests include all aspects of geriatrics but especially the management of acute crises in the frail elderly, dementia and ethical issues especially around the end of life.
Trisha has also worked for over 20 years as a freelance medical journalist and broadcaster, writing for both the public and for health professionals. She has worked extensively for the BBC – radio, TV and Online – and currently writes for many publications and websites. She has a regular health page in Yours magazine and blogs for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust. Last year she was awarded a commendation by the Medical Journalists Association for “Excellence in Journalistic Skills”.
Trisha is married to Duncan who is a dentist, and has two teenage children neither of whom want to follow in her footsteps and be a doctor! In what little spare time she can find, she plays guitar in a Blues band.
