Hello my name is…  

Andrew Hardy. I was born in Derby and moved to Yorkshire in 1993. I met my wife, Anne, at Leeds University, we have been married 12 years and have a seven year old daughter.

What is your position?  

Consultant in Acute and Respiratory Medicine, and Clinical Director for Integrated Medical Specialties

Tell us about your career background.
I went to University in Leeds and after qualifying did house jobs in Leeds and Huddersfield. After six months doing A&E near Manchester (the only time I have worked outside Yorkshire!) I did SHO training in medicine in Leeds and then SPR training in respiratory medicine in Yorkshire which included another year in Huddersfield. After nine months working as a locum consultant I joined CHFT in July 2010.

What are the best bits about your job?
Variety- acute medicine is a dynamic and evolving speciality and you need to have a broad understanding of lots of conditions and know a bit about how all the other specialities in the hospital work. I am hoping my new position will help me support our specialty teams to deliver a better experience for our patients with acute and chronic conditions.

What is the highlight of your career so far?

It is easy to say the last job you got, but really it is a progression with lots of small highlights rather than one big one. In terms of medical management this is my first position so I am not sure what the highlight will be yet!

Sum up your role in three words.

Demanding, rewarding, teamwork

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Lego set designer - I wanted to be the one who worked out how the build up the models and drew the pictures that showed you how to do it.

Who is your hero/heroine and why?
All the volunteers who helped get staff and patients to the hospital during the recent bad weather - I think everyone has the potential to be a hero!  

When you are not at work, how do you relax?
Playing golf, bridge (the card game- I met my wife at the Leeds uni bridge club), swimming. Spending time with my family and daughter. If I am not working, Friday evening with a glass of Californian chardonnay on the sofa with our cat and a DVD!

What is your favourite place?

Locally I would say Catch, the seafood restaurant in West Vale. Further afield then the swimming pool at the National Hotel in Miami. *Photo attached

What would people be surprised to know about you?
I've always wanted to have dinner with Arnold Schwarzenegger - I got to meet him when he came to Leeds to give a talk about his life last year.