Fiona Douglas :: North Cumbria Integrated Care

How do you like patients to greet you?

Call me Doctor Douglas

Where are you based?

Cumberland Infirmary

What's your specialty?

Oncology (cancer)

What are your special interests within this field?

acute oncology
gastrointestinal (GI) cancers
inherited cancer predisposition

Professional background

I've spent most of my career working in Cancer services. I was a consultant in cancer genetics, but to continue in this would have meant moving away from the north of England.

I opted instead to go back to more mainstream work within Cancer services by becoming a Specialty Doctor in Oncology.

I enjoy continuing to serve the population of the north of England and enjoy being in a more clinical role.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I really enjoy providing care to the people of north Cumbria. I also enjoy being part of various teams here. I like my non clinical roles, working as an appraiser and being a Schwartz Round facilitator.

Schwartz Rounds provide a structured forum where staff come together regularly to discuss the emotional and social aspects of working in healthcare.

Which of our values is most important to you?

Kindness is the lynch pin of care. The word stems from the same root as the word kin. It's about making people feel they're included, are part of one humanity and that their lives matter. I think that this underpins wellness.