About Me
Helping doctors to thrive
Hi, I’m Paul
I work as a coaching senior doctor in Suffolk
As a consultant neurologist for over 20 years, I have witnessed the ever increasing challenges of practising medicine, where year on year the gap between demands and resources widens.
A decade ago, I began to explore the impact of burnout on my colleagues. We found that over 50% of our doctors were burned out.
This shocking discovery led me on a journey to understand what was driving doctor burnout. Working with our doctors, we explored the causes of burnout and developed a Trust-wide strategy focusing on the organisational drivers of burnout and what would make a positive difference.
As our Trust’s Medical Director from 2021-2024, my focus was on improving its culture and prioritising doctor wellbeing, creating an environment of psychological safety where doctors feel valued, respected and able to speak up.
My mission was to increase our doctors’ sense of autonomy, as well as connection with colleagues and their work; to allow us to focus our attention and energy on our patients and ourselves, rather than the distractions that get in the way.
Organisational change takes time.
Recognising this, I trained as a coach so I could support doctors feeling stuck or experiencing burnout. I have worked with many doctors in primary and secondary care to help them find a way forward, to feel empowered and thrive.
Most recently, I have moved to a neighbouring acute Trust where I am an Associate Medical Director, leading on developing a wellbeing strategy for doctors, setting up a faculty of coaching doctors, building a peer support network and supporting clinical leadership development.
“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. Some of us need to go upstream and find out why they are falling in.”
Desmond Tutu
My Coaching Philosophy
Would you like a safe space to step outside the whirlwind of overwhelm, reflect on what really matters, take back control, and start thriving again?
I can help you:
- Rediscover the joy of practising medicine.
- Protect your boundaries and learn how to say “no” with confidence.
- Move from exhaustion to thriving, regaining a sense of purpose and meaning in your work.
- Reconnect with your values and align your career with what truly matters to you.
Background & Experience
- Over 20 years’ experience as a consultant neurologist and clinical leader.
- A deep understanding of the neuroscience of wellbeing and how to thrive in challenging environments.
- A decade-long interest in the institutional drivers of burnout and implementing strategies to prevent it.
- Extensive experience coaching doctors in both primary and secondary care.
- Lived experience of recovering from burnout and navigating a career change.
- An Advanced Diploma in Mindfulness and Stress Reduction.
- Personal experience with the value of deep listening and empathy as a Samaritan listener.
Burnout isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a signal of misalignment between you and your job. It’s driven by your working environment, not a lack of resilience. Recovery from burnout involves more than just rest; it’s about remembering who you really are.
Doctors often get stuck in a whirlwind of busyness with no time to pause, reflect, or plan a way forward. My coaching offers you the chance to step back, gain clarity, and create a roadmap for a more balanced, fulfilling life.