A Glan Clwyd Hospital consultant is encouraging people to consider a career in elderly care after being named one of the UK’s most inspirational physicians.

Dr Indrajit Chattergee was listed as one of top ten inspiring physicians for 2019 by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

Dr Chatterjee, who has worked as a Consultant Geriatrician at Glan Clwyd since 2004, works on the Care of the Elderly (COTE) wards at the hospital. He also holds clinics at Colwyn Bay Hospital, and provides consultant support to the community-based North Denbighshire Enhanced Care Service.

Dr Chatterjee was nominated for his “passion, enthusiasm and commitment for teaching”, and for offering clinical leadership to the Central Area team as their Clinical Director.

He was recognised for his commitment to mentoring many nurses and healthcare professionals for advanced practitioner courses, who have gone on to become valuable assets to the organisation and beyond.

With an ageing population and rising demand in the healthcare system, Dr Chatterjee hopes many others would be inspired to follow a career in elderly medicine and in the care for older people.

“When I started medicine, I never wanted to become an organ or system specialist, so COTE gave me an opportunity to look at the human being as a whole in a holistic manner” he said.

“With older people, if you make the right diagnosis and provide the appropriate intervention following a comprehensive assessment in a timely manner, they often make a good recovery, which is really rewarding.

“You never work on your own, you’re always part of a multi-disciplinary team, and it’s a really satisfying way to work together.”

The College compiled the list to celebrate physicians who have inspired others through their work and commitment to medicine.

“It’s very humbling seeing your name alongside other individuals who have done a lot of great work” he said.

“The work is never your own though, and I’m lucky to have a great team with fantastic colleagues who work really hard to make a difference despite challenges and pressures.

“Care of the Elderly is very much that way – you rely on good nursing, therapy, pharmacy and other professionals along with high-calibre consultant colleagues and enthusiastic trainees and students…and you can’t help but feel inspired to come to work.

“I’ve always enjoyed working in this area, it’s very holistic and multidisciplinary. We have an aging population and often our patients are really complicated with multiple health problems, so it’s always challenging, but also so rewarding when you see the difference your care can make.”

Dr Emma Hosking, Medical Director at Glan Clwyd Hospital, said: “Inspirational is exactly the word I would use to describe Dr Chatterjee’s work, not just in supporting our medical students, but colleagues in nursing and therapies roles in care of the elderly.

“I’m delighted that he has received this thoroughly deserved national recognition for his outstanding work.”