Medstars Podcast channel

After Trauma: Managing Emergencies and Supporting Recovery

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT

In this episode we are joined by Joanne Lockwood-Smith – Nurse Consultant in a Major Trauma Centre in central London who has spent her career at the front line of trauma care. Joanne has been a key voice in advocating for better psychological support for the survivors of traumatic injuries - an area that has often been underfunded and overlooked.

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Healing Under Fire: Medicine on the Frontlines with Dr Elma Wong

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMT

What’s it like to deliver life-saving care in a war zone? NHS consultant anaesthetist Dr Elma Wong shares with Dr Barry Lambert her frontline experiences with Médecins Sans Frontières in Yemen, Gaza and the West Bank, revealing the realities of medicine under fire and the resilience it demands.

https://msf.org.uk

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Professor Elizabeth Dick - Part 2. Promoting a Healthy Work Culture Within Healthcare

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 15:31:59 GMT

Professor Elizabeth Dick is a Consultant Radiologist and Professor of Practice at Imperial College London, where she is Associate Director of Medical Education. She is internationally recognised for her work in Emergency and Trauma Radiology, having been instrumental as the Radiology lead in the development of Major Trauma Centres across London and the UK, which have halved mortality rates for major trauma cases since 2010.

Elizabeth is an outspoken advocate for addressing bullying, racism, and toxic workplace cultures within the NHS, and for promoting compassion, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare training and practice.

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The Price of Life: How NICE Decides What Treatments NHS Can Afford

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In this episode we look into one of the most influential but least understood institutions in British healthcare: NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. We are joined by Dr Raju Reddy, Chair of one of NICE’s Technology Appraisal Committee. A consultant anaesthetist by training and MBA-qualified, Dr Reddy sits at the heart of decisions that affect billions of pounds in NHS spending — and, crucially, where that money is spent

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Professor Elizabeth Dick - Part 1. Driving Social Mobility in Medicine

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Professor Elizabeth Dick is a Consultant Radiologist and Professor of Practice at Imperial College London.

A former President of both the British and European Societies of Emergency Radiology, she is also a passionate educator and advocate for social mobility in medicine. Her award-winning ‘Getting into Medicine’ and Virtual Work Experience programmes at Imperial College NHS Trust have opened pathways for thousands of 16–18-year-olds from non-selective state schools. In 2025, Elizabeth and her team and received the UK Social Mobility Gold Award at the national SOMOs, which honour leaders creating tangible change in access, opportunity and inclusion across the UK workforce.

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Unravelling the Roots of Anxiety and Burnout - Alan Dovey

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:00:00 GMT

Alan has worked as lead consultant psychotherapist to major private manufacturing businesses and emergency services. He has spoken at the World Congress in CBT regrading mental health and work. His specialist interest in burn-out has developed over the last 5 years.

In this episode we’re delving into something most of us spend our lives avoiding – our awareness of mortality. How does the knowledge that life is finite shape the way we live, love, and work?

Alan is also a Medstars champion

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When Work & Health Collide, Occupational Health Unpacked - with Dr Jay Desai

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Today we’re taking a closer look at a part of healthcare that quietly supports millions of us — yet often operates behind the scenes: Occupational Health.

Whether you’re someone navigating a return to work, facing long-term illness, or just wondering what happens when “work and health” collide — this episode is for you.

Medstars Founder Dr Barry Lambert is joined by Dr Jay Desai — a GP and Occupational Health Physician. Dr Desai has spent years walking the tightrope between the needs of employers, the rights of employees, and the realities of complex health conditions.

Click here for more information about Dr Jay Desai.

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Managing Grief with Legacy and Love - Rachel Ollerenshaw

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 07:30:00 GMT

We are delighted to share a very different kind of episode. We’re not here to speak with a clinician, but with someone whose life was profoundly changed by personal loss—and who responded with compassion, strength, and action.

Rachel Ollerenshaw is the founder of Molly Olly’s Wishes, a charity inspired by her daughter Molly, who sadly died at the age of 8 from a rare kidney cancer. In the years since Molly’s passing, Rachel and her family have built an organisation that has helped more than 16,000 children with life-threatening illnesses and their families across the UK—granting wishes, funding therapies, and supporting emotional wellbeing.

Molly Olly's: https://mollyolly.co.uk/

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Understanding and Demystifying Eating Disorders - Dr Sophie Tomlin

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Dr Sophie Tomlin is a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Barberry Centre, part of the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. She leads a team that provides specialist treatment for people with eating disorders—and she’s here to help us cut through the myths, stigma, and silence that still surround these illnesses.

LINKS:

Caring for a Loved One with an Eating Disorder by Janet Treasure: https://amzn.eu/d/ci0CbBH

Health At Every Size by Linda Bacon: https://amzn.eu/d/6T5SnG3

Beat Charity: www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

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What Men should know about Perimenopause - Dr Andrew Coward.

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT

We’re talking about a topic that affects millions of women — and by extension, millions of men too: the menopause. But instead of talking about it from a clinical or purely female perspective, we’re flipping the script a bit.

Our question today is: What should men know about menopause — and how can we help?

To help us answer that, we’re joined by Dr Andrew Coward, an experienced GP and menopause specialist, who has helped hundreds of women — and their partners — navigate this transformative phase of life.

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The Truth About Perimenopause - Dr Catherine Coward.

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Dr Catherine Coward is a highly experienced General Practitioner and women’s health specialist, with over 30 years of clinical practice. Throughout her career, she has successfully balanced the demands of medicine with raising a family of four, embracing both personal and professional challenges with passion and resilience.

Dr Coward holds the Advanced Certificate in Menopause Care from the British Menopause Society (BMS) and is formally recognised as both a BMS Menopause Specialist and Trainer. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to empowering women to thrive at every stage of life, through expert, individualised menopause care.

Bringing together her clinical expertise and ability to communicate complex issues clearly, Dr Coward authored Myths of Menopause, a concise and accessible guide designed to dispel misinformation and support women through their menopause journey.

https://amzn.eu/d/9V1RRv2

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Understanding Pain - Dr Hoo Kee Tsang

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:19:18 GMT

Dr Barry Lambert talks to one of the UK's leading pain management specialists Dr Hoo Kee Tsang to understanding what is pain and why it is necessary all the way through to how to prevent and treat chronic longer lasting pain, including the use of opioids and medical cannabis.

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The Power of Talking Therapy - Dr Simon Heyland.

Tue, 27 May 2025 13:37:55 GMT

Dr Mahnaz Hashmi is joined by Dr Simon Heyland, a consultant psychiatrist in medical psychotherapy, to explore the power of talking therapies.

We’ll be delving into how talking therapies can support mental health conditions like trauma, anxiety, and depression, as well as physical health conditions and overall wellbeing. We’ll also discuss how to choose the right therapy, tackle common misconceptions, and break down barriers to accessing mental health support.

Links referred to in this episode:

UKCP: https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/

British Psychoanalytical Council: https://www.bpc.org.uk/

BABCP: https://babcp.com/

NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

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Understanding Dementia - Prof Tarun Kuruvilla

Fri, 23 May 2025 12:40:07 GMT

Dr Barry Lambert is joined by Prof Tarun Kuruvilla, a Consultant Psychiatrist and leading researcher with decades of experience in dementia care. Prof Kuruvilla helps us better understand what is dementia, how to prevent it and we explore the power of early diagnosis and treatment advances. We discuss practical steps to take if you or a loved one are diagnosed with dementia and understand that the situation is often more hopeful than it first seems.

Great further resources:

Alzheimers Research UK

Alzheimers Research "Your brain matter" information booklet

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Understanding ADHD & Neurodiversity - Dr Erin Turner.

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:06:46 GMT

Dr Erin Turner is a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in working with young people with mental health problems in Birmingham, particularly those with psychosis. Professionally, she is interested in the overlap between mental illness and neurodiversity, and how to navigate the healthcare system to get a timely diagnosis and specialist support. She has personal experience herself, as a parent of sons who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

LINKS

BBC Sounds – Dr Susan O’Sullivan https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0028zxs

ADHD UK https://adhduk.co.uk

ADDitude magazine https://www.additudemag.com/additude-magazine/

NICE Guidelines https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/

JAAQ: https://jaaq.org/creator/35948

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Supporting Mental Health in the Hospitality Sector - Sam Sears, The Burnt Chef Project.

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 11:49:16 GMT

Sam Sears is a senior chef and Ambassador for The Burnt Chef Project. Our aim is to understand the mental health challenges affecting those working in the hospitality industry, a sector well-known for its high-pressure environment and long hours.

The Burnt Chef Project is an international organisation with over 200 ambassadors across the world which aims to support those working in hospitality who are struggling with their mental health. Sam is passionate about supporting his younger colleagues and promoting change within the industry to reduce the stigma around mental illness.

The Burnt Chef Project: https://www.theburntchefproject.com/

Sam's fundraising page: https://fundraise.theburntchefproject.com/fundraisers/samsears/100k-jurassic-ultra-2025

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How to Avoid Burnout at Work - Alan Dovey.

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

Today we are exploring why so many of us are so exhausted at work – and what we do about it. We’re joined by Alan Dovey, a Consultant Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and workplace mental health specialist who is the director of Working Minds. Alan has worked extensively with emergency services such as the fire brigade and police services, corporate sectors including as mental health advisor to Jaguar Land Rover. He has recently co-authored a comprehensive government review on workplace burnout.

Links to content mentioned in this episode:

The Brain Bible: How to Stay Vital, Productive, and Happy for a Lifetime, John Arden https://amzn.eu/d/9uV1GzJ

Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams, Matthew Walker: https://amzn.eu/d/7yzXvp8

Depression, the secret we share, Andrew Solomon: https://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_solomon_depression_the_secret_we_share

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How to Find your Motivation to Live a Healthier Lifestyle - Steff Iancu.

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 13:27:55 GMT

Steff left a career as a lawyer to become a personal trainer and run a successful gym . Having battled with her weight and mental health, she shares her journey to regaining control and inspiring others.

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Understanding Mental Health Challenges - Dr Mahnaz Hashmi.

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:07:20 GMT

Dr Mahnaz Hashmi, Consultant Psychiatrist – understanding mental health challenges

As a Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist, Mahnaz argues her most important roles are to advocate for patients with severe mental illness and reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions amongst non-psychiatric health professionals.

Although society has made great steps forward in speaking out about mental health, the numbers suffering from these conditions is rising.

We speak with Dr Hashmi to break down the issue and begin to better understand this complex topic

Links mentioned in the podcast:

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

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Running Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Covid & bringing Malala to the UK - Dr Fiona Reynolds.

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:38:08 GMT

In October 2012 Dr Fiona Reynolds was visiting Pakistan to help advise on the intensive care aspects of liver transplantation but in the process found herself central to the care of Malala Yousafzai.

Dr Reynolds shares her memories of 2012 as well helping run one the Uks largest Children’s Hospital – Birmingham Children’s hospital as its Medical director.

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What you Didn't Know about General Anaesthetic - Dr Barry Lambert.

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 14:59:12 GMT

We speak to Consultant Anaesthetist and Medstars co-founder Dr Barry Lambert about how anaesthesia works and what happens to you when you are under. For many being put under general anaesthetic can feel like the scariest part of going for surgery. In this episode Barry talks through the facts and why it is incredibly safe.

This is a great listen if you are awaiting for surgery or a parent with a child going for surgery and looking for further guidance and support.

Some useful links:

Patient risk infographic from Royal College of Anaesthetist

https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/Risk-infographics_2019web.pdf

A family guide to anaesthetic video

https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/patients/patient-information-resources/information-children-parents-carers/dennis-has-anaesthetic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYsi9WD3AD8

Young persons/teenager guide to having an anaesthetic

https://rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2024-12/TeenGuide2024web.pdf

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