Today Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Neeraj Bhasin, takes up his new role as Executive Medical Director, after David Birkenhead retired last week. Here's a snapshot of his career and why he thinks CHFT is so special.

Tell us a bit about your career journey so far

It all started at HRI as I did my work experience here from school. Following my A-levels at Huddersfield New College, I went to Guys and St Thomas’ Medical School in London, and then after a year down south I came back to Huddersfield. I did my surgical training across Yorkshire and a MD at the University of Leeds. I was fortunate enough to get a Consultant Vascular Surgeon job at CHFT and soon after that also went into a leadership role as Associate Medical Director. To develop myself, I then moved into a system role as Regional Clinical Director of the West Yorkshire Vascular Service, which was to transform vascular services across five trusts. I learnt so much in that job! I returned to CHFT as Deputy Medical Director and now have gone full circle from work experience student to Executive Medical Director.

Why did you choose to study medicine?

I was always interested in being able to make things better through your ability and skill and combine that with caring for people. I was also fascinated by this huge building that had all this fancy kit in, always had the lights on, and always had people going in and out of it. To be honest, I never considered anything else and have no regrets, I believe it is what I was meant to do. I’m really pleased, that as Executive Medical Director, I will be able to continue with my clinical practice and operating.

Do you have a memorable career highlight?

Whilst there have been a number of operations that stand out, facing up to someone actively bleeding, or a really complex issue, and walking away a few hours later having fixed the problem – that is an amazing feeling. However, the highlight has to be the times spent in HRI Theatre 2, when it was the vascular theatre. The trust and relationships across the whole multi-disciplinary team were exceptional. You’d work so hard, create excellent patient outcomes, but have a great time doing it.

Do you live locally to the Trust? What do you do for fun?

I grew up in Milnsbridge in Huddersfield, moved back in 2000, and lived in Quarmby for years. About three years ago we moved across to Halifax and love the area we’re in. My wife is a practice nurse, and we have two boys at school who keep us very busy! To relax I just love spending time with the family, some simple things like eating out, long Yorkshire walks. I was the Crowd Stadium Doctor for eight years at the John Smith’s Stadium, which was great, but I had to give up when the boys were little, but for a few seasons we’ve had season tickets for Huddersfield Town – I can't say that’s been ‘fun’ lately though. The boys and I also play a lot of indoor cricket and I’m really proud to work with two charities, being trustee of The Cricket Asylum Foundation, and Chair of The Circulation Foundation.

What’s special about CHFT?

I’ve worked across a number of trusts, and I honestly believe CHFT really is a special place. It’s big enough to do really interesting work, but small enough that it still has those personal interactions between colleagues. There is a great feel about the place, and I do believe that, the vast majority of the time, we demonstrate and live One Culture of Care. I know there are challenges - there are everywhere, but working across other trusts it always feels so good to come back to CHFT.

What made you want to be Medical Director?

I really enjoy the challenge of clinical leadership, the ability to work with a number of teams, different people, across a range of specialties and topics. It’s great to continue my operating as I still have a positive impact on individual patients, but in the MD role it gives the opportunity to have a broader impact to try and improve things for the wider community that I grew up in, and continue to live in.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I don’t think you can have one leadership style as you have to be adaptable to the situation you’re facing. So, I wouldn’t say I have one style. I think, in terms of values, the things I try and demonstrate and role model are collaboration, integrity, and being authentic and inclusive. The other thing is being conscious that I’m not the subject expert in a lot of things we do, so ensuring the clinical teams are involved in setting the direction and I’m here to facilitate their success and development.

Those at last year’s CHuFT Awards will remember your iconic glitter beard – is it important for you to enjoy your work, and why?

It absolutely is important to enjoy your work. Whether in a clinical or non-clinical role a lot of the things we deal with, and the decisions we have to make, are difficult, stressful, and on occasion, traumatic. Where you can, and where it’s appropriate, you absolutely have to enjoy yourself. Not only does it make work so much better, but it creates really tight teams, who work well together, trust each other, and have each other’s back. It creates a really high functioning team, and that can only be better for the patient.

What are you most looking forward to in this new role?

Working across a number of teams, building new relationships, strengthening existing relationships, and looking to create positive change at scale. It’s certainly a difficult time in terms of demand on the services and the financial environment, but we work with excellent colleagues who want to do the right thing, deliver great care to our patients, and working alongside them is what I’m looking forward to most.

Is there anything specific you’ll be looking to achieve in this post?

I know there are a number of targets, metrics, and standards that are measured that will be used to determine if I’m achieving or not. However, for me, the main achievement is happy, cared for, supported, listened to, colleagues. I know you can’t please all the people, all of the time, but I really believe if the teams are happy, all those targets and metrics will look after themselves. So, the main achievement I will be working towards is making sure colleagues feel valued and supported.

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