Dr Samiha Hayek, Family Medicine Consultant

• Management of chronic health conditions, particularly those endemic in the Maori-Pacific populations such as Heart Failure, Chronic Kidney Disease and poorly controlled Diabetes
• Management of acute health conditions such as acute respiratory illnesses, genito-urinary infections and acute cardiac emergencies
• Providing services such as wound management (suturing), insertion and removal of Long Acting Contraceptive implants and cervical smear testing
• Supporting a trainee nurse practitioner with regular teaching sessions, case reviews and discussion of difficult laboratory results

Having worked as a GP in Auckland, New Zealand, I have gained a good understanding of the balance required to navigate health provision in a partly private primary care environment. I have also had to adapt my clinical services to a new patient cohort (Maori-pacific) and in doing so, I have learnt the importance of providing healthcare that aligns with the cultural health beliefs of the patient as well as best practice medicine, in order to optimise patient education, adherence and health outcomes. During my practice in New Zealand, I have also trained and become competent in the insertion and removal of Implant Contraceptives, which is an integral part of Women’s Health in primary care.

• Locum GP work across multiple GP clinics in the wider London region
• Working in a very fast paced, high pressure clinical environment
• Regularly adapting to new clinic settings, protocols and technicalities

I have worked across a large variety of NHS affiliated GP clinics in London which has given me a good exposure to patients from very varied demographic backgrounds, with a range of different clinical needs and expectations. This has helped me to be more versatile in my consultation style and delivery of clinical services. The high pressure nature of work in the NHS has also allowed me to refine my time management and clinical efficiency skills. This has further afforded me to learn the art of prioritisation of medical problems; an essential skill when treating complex patients in a busy clinic environment.

• Running regular multi-disciplinary team meetings with nursing staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and members of the management team
• Partaking in family meetings in order to set appropriate ceilings of care for patients, discuss active medical issues, and plan for short and long term goals for patients’ medical needs
• Completing weekly ward rounds to review patients with both acute and chronic health issues across the entire population of the residential home, compromising of over 100 residents
• Doing regular on call shifts to provide remote and on site support for nursing teams and managing any acute/medical emergencies

My role as a GP in the Elizabeth Knox Residential home has given me an invaluable insight into the medical and social needs of a largely elderly population, often requiring me to make fast and measured decisions tailored to every patient. I have also gained a lot of experience in palliative care medicine including the prescribing and titration of palliative care drugs and completion of DNAR forms. Practically, it has given me the exposure to be an active member of a wider Multi-Disciplinary team which requires excellent communication skills, leadership responsibilities and appropriate delegation skills.