A RETIRED couple have co-written a book recounting their lives working in the NHS and the effect it has had on their family.
Peter Sykes, 81, undertook his early training at the old Ashton General Hospital, while his wife Jane, 82, worked as a community medical officer in Tameside.
The book they have recently published is called ‘Being a Surgeon and Being a Surgeon’s Wife’.
Peter said it’s an “honest and personal account” as “fascinating” patient stories illustrate what the job entails and the pressures that result.
He added that incidents of “medical malpractice, sexual discrimination, political interference and other problems encountered during a long and eventful career” are also related, also exemplified by authentic patient stories.
Peter served as a consultant surgeon at Trafford General for 27 years up until 2003, later becoming the medical director of an NHS Trust where he won a UK Medical Management Team of the Year award.
During the final three years of his career, he was involved at a national level in the control of quality of surgical services.
Back at the very beginning, Peter completed his surgical training between Ashton General Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary.
“At Ashton General Hospital, in the old ‘Lake Hospital’ as it was called, I worked twice in the early 1970s,” he explained.
“It was a fabulous experience, although being resident on alternate nights and alternate weekends was very tough.”
Jane, meanwhile, worked as a community medical officer from 1967 until 1997, mainly in child health and in the immunisation and vaccination service visiting every school in Tameside.
“She must have protected most of the Tameside residents who are now aged 35 to 65,” said Peter.
“She also ran baby clinics and chest clinics in Hyde, Millbrook, Stalybridge and Dukinfield. On occasion, she deputised as a medical officer at the Dukinfield Crematorium. As a result, she had to give evidence at the Harold Shipman inquiry – which was a daunting experience.”
Peter is no stranger to writing, having previously published four novels and two collections of short stories – all with a medical theme. He also continues to post short stories, reminiscences and anecdotes on his blog.
But this time he felt the need to write something with “a little more gravitas”.
He added: “I wanted to try to show the highs and lows of a surgeon and to reflect on the way how this affects one’s wife and family.
“Jane chose a career without overnight responsibility to support me and our children made sacrifices too.”
The book is available from Amazon as a paperback for £10.99, an ebook and also an audio version here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Being-Surgeon-Surgeons-Wife/dp/B0DLHVY7Y7/
All proceeds from the book will be donated to the East Cheshire Hospice in Macclesfield, where Peter used to be a trustee and now helps to fundraise for the charity.