Half a century of hard work is marked by doctor

Consultant Michael Thompson is this month celebrating the landmark anniversary having started his medical career in 1966 in Sheffield.

The Queen Alexandra Hospital locum consultant said it has been a privilege working for the NHS since his first job at Sheffield Royal Infirmary.

‘It has been an absolute privilege to have worked in the NHS for 50 years and to be celebrating this milestone at QA,’ Dr Thompson said.

‘I first started working in Portsmouth as a consultant surgeon at St Mary’s Hospital in October 1981.

‘Since qualifying from medical school in 1966, a lot has changed and the advances in technology have been staggering.

‘At QA, the colorectal department has continued to grow and is now leading the way in technology with minimally invasive surgery and a surgical robot.

‘Thirty-five years ago there was no such thing as an intensive care unit and the colorectal department consisted of one surgeon – me.’

Throughout his career, Dr Thompson has been involved in many national projects and professional organisations.

He has been president of three professional associations including the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, and the clinical lead for the National Audit of Bowel Cancer.

Dr Thompson has also taken part in various research projects in relation to the symptoms of bowel cancer and has developed online bowel symptom checkers, including one on the NHS Choices website which sees more than 30,000 hits a month.

He has contributed to more than 100 academic lectures, including national and international meetings and now spends one month a year operating in Africa.

Dr Thompson added: ‘My achievements would not have been possible without excellent medical, nursing and administrative colleagues and of course all the Portsmouth patients I have cared for.’