We’re wishing our Medical Director, David Birkenhead all the very best as he retires later this week after 25 years at CHFT.

David qualified in 1988, working in Manchester before joining us as a Consultant Microbiologist in 1999. He was the last doctor recruited before CRH merged with HRI.

David became Medical Director in July 2015, leading our Trust through the challenges of the Covid pandemic as our Director of Infection Prevention and Control and he’s also been the lead for Pathology across West Yorkshire and Harrogate.

David will be taking time to relax with his wife Anne and spend more time with his family. Rumour has it that he’s also the captain of a narrowboat, and he’ll be spending more time on the waterways.

Enjoy your well-deserved retirement David.

Deputy Medical Director and Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Neeraj Bhasin, will taking up the role of Medical Director when David retires. More from Neeraj next week.