Heartbeat December 2019

Dr Maria Atkinson
Clinical Director of Paediatrics
Maria has recently taken over the role of
clinical director after serving almost ten
years as a paediatric consultant at our
Trust.
Joining our workplace as a senior house
officer (SHO) in 1997 for a six-month
rotation Maria enjoyed her time here so
much that as soon as a position became
available, she jumped at the chance to
join the team here at Sandwell and West
Birmingham.
Sharing her experience, Maria said: “When
I joined as a SHO back in 1997, the
teamwork, patient group and community
had a massive impact on me and as soon I
had qualified I was looking to return.” Over
her career, Maria has gained experience in
Dr Deep Chand, a Consultant
Radiologist is retiring from our Trust
after a career that has spanned
four decades. From 1977 – 1981, Dr
Chand worked as a registrar and
senior registrar in radiology at North
Staffordshire Hospital. In 1982 he joined
our Trust as a consultant radiologist
and since then has gone on to have a
distinguished career.
Working as a consultant radiologist he has
pioneered CT scanning. He’s also been
pivotal in the introduction of ultrasound,
MRI scanning and nuclear medicine as
a whole. Dr Chand is the Chairman of
the Division of Radiology and regularly
contributes to the teaching and assessment
of staff. He commented: “As a teacher, I’m
extremely proud of my students. 75 per
cent of my students are consultants, group
clinical directors and presidents in the UK
and overseas.”
Outside of working at our Trust Dr Chand
has had an equally impressive career. At
43, he joined the Territorial Army as a
private soldier and rose through the ranks
to become lieutenant colonel. He said:
“I joined the Territorial Army at 43 years
old with my registrar and radiographers.
Together we created a radiology
department in the 202 Field Hospital,
Birmingham.”
Dr Chand served in both Gulf wars. During
the latter, he ran a 200-bed military hospital
a range of management roles that she has
held alongside her clinical duties including
risk lead, child death lead as well as a college
tutor.
Sharing her thoughts on her newest
challenge and priorities as clinical director,
Maria said: “Clinical director is a key role
which will help define, develop and shape
the department as we move to ready
ourselves for Midland Met. Currently, we’re
working hard as a management team to
steady our department for the winter rush.
Our priority is to streamline the department
so that we’re able to continue providing
safe and effective patient care through the
busiest few months.”
Looking forward to working closely with the
Wave goodbye to…
Dr Chand in the Imaging department
over six months in Basra. Working on the
front line Dr Chand and his colleagues
provided life-saving care by introducing
the use of ultrasound. This helped with
the diagnosis and management of battle
casualties.
He added: “I had the opportunity to serve
Her Majesty the Queen, country and
mankind during my deployment in the first
Gulf War. I am grateful to Sandwell and
West Birmingham NHS Trust for releasing
me. The team and I not only supported our
soldiers, but we were also able to create
another ward for local children and females
to help save lives.”
Dr Chand has received several awards
recognising his outstanding career and for
his service to queen and country. He has
been admitted into the Order of St. John
– a royal order of chivalry awarded by the
wider team, Maria said: “My door is always
open, I’d like to encourage anyone in my
department to come and speak to me if they
have any advice or concerns, whether they
want to propose an improvement or report
and issue, I’m here to work with you.”
Dr Maria Atkinson
Dr Deep Chand
Consultant Radiologist
Queen. He has also received the Territorial
Decoration award for long service, as well
as being appointed as a Fellow of the Royal
Society of Medicine.
On top of all this, Dr Chand supports
several charitable works. He dedicates his
time to many medical and humanitarian
projects in deprived areas. One such project
includes establishing a home and school for
children in India.
Dr Sarah Yusuf, Group Director of Imaging
said: “Dr Chand has made an immense
contribution not only to our department
but to our country too. He’ll be leaving
behind big, if not impossible, shoes to fill.
We appreciate everything he’s done since
joining our Trust in 1982. We’ll be sad to
say goodbye to a much-respected colleague
and friend.”
After leaving the Trust Dr Chand won’t
be slowing down. He’s looking forward to
gardening, travelling, spending time with
his family and attending the defence studies
dining club. He’ll also be completing his
autobiography. When asked why he said,
"I'd like to inspire the younger generation
from underprivileged backgrounds to have
progressive careers as I have been able to."
From all of us at the Trust, we’d like
to thank you for your hard work and
dedication, Dr Chand. We wish you a happy
retirement.
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