
Amy is the Vice President and Officer of the Association for Palliative Medicine. She was appointed to this role in March 2019 after serving two years as the APM Honorary Secretary.
After graduating from Oxford University, Amy trained initially in Haematology before finding her passion for Palliative Medicine . Moving to the East midlands during the MTAS saga in 2007, she worked with some inspiring Consultants who remain a big influence on her. Having experienced the challenge of a career change and alterations in the training system for junior doctors, Amy was able to devote time to supporting other Trainees. She took on the role of Chair of the APM Trainees Committee for two years. In this role she led an incredible group of Trainees and junior colleagues, all devoted to aiding the 220 Trainees in our speciality across the UK.
Simultaneously, Amy was the Secretary to the Trainees Committee of the Royal College of Physicians (London). This was through the challenging time of the negotiations around the new junior doctors Contract (even coming face to face with Mr Hunt!). She worked hard to disseminate information, provide support and ensure that the workforce issues created by the new contract would not impact the vulnerable dying that we care for.
During this difficult time, Amy became aware of the low morale of junior doctors and medical students. Seeking to be in a position to help address this, she enrolled in a Masters in Medical Education at Nottingham University with a particular interest in coaching , mentoring and supervision and performance enhancement.
She continued her links with the RCP with roles in the Strategy and Communication Committee and a newly developed Flexibility and Wellbeing Committee as well as being a Trainee representative on the JRCPTB working group on Shape of Training.
Having spent countless hours on East Midlands Trains commuting back and forth (the staff at St Pancras Station knew Amy well and would always have a latte ready for her arrival!), she moved to London to take up a Consultant post at Bartshealth, working across St Bartholomew’s Hospital, The Royal London Hospital and St Joseph’s Hospice.
Her current vision is to see the APM evolve, grow, and be at the forefront of palliative and end of life care not only in the UK but worldwide.
One of the key ways to drive this forward is building strong working relationships with other organisations. Amy has maintained links with the RCP in advising on Assisted Dying and Gosport and is the Quality Improvement and Professional Standards Representative on the Joint Specialty Committee of the RCP/APM.
She is the RCP Ambitions for End of Life Care representative and a representative for the NHS England End of Life Programme Board working closely with both NHSE and NHSI. She has spoken at “All Parliamentary Groups” regarding commissioning to palliative care and works with Baroness Finley on the Access to Palliative Care Bill. She is a member of the Clinical Advisory Committee of Hospice UK and speaks often at national conferences. She has also actively participated in media work with interviews on BBC radio regarding Gosport, the Alfie Evans case, end of life care and the use of opiates.
Having read to this point, you will see that Amy has given up sleep to make to most of a 25 hour working day! During her valued time off she can be found at a West End musical with her 7 year old daughter, reading a classic novel or cooking up a gourmet three course meal for a friend.
She hopes to continue to represent the APM membership with drive and enthusiasm – and (possibly) some sleep!