By the way ...Overweight medics set a bad example

DO AS I say, not as I do. A dictum that was probably never so true about many of my medical colleagues.

I was reminded of this recently when speaking at a literary festival about the evolution of medical practice during my career. I was on the stage with my son, Cosmo, an anaesthetist and Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. He is also a member of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (he trained as an A&E doctor before moving into anaesthetics).

Cosmo and I reflected on how in recent years ambulance drivers have increased their professionalism in leaps and bounds, and are now trained as paramedics.

Cosmo was at pains to explain to the audience that in the event of an accident, or many other health emergencies, he believes it would be far better to be treated by a paramedic rather than any doctor who just happens to be around.

The reason is that paramedics are the experts at crisis management in those situations, fully equipped and trained to cope with problems with the airways, major bleeding, serious multiple injuries and collapse from any cause, for this is their everyday task and they practise their skills constantly.

To my surprise, this week, on two occasions I have come across paramedics puffing away on cigarettes as they leant against their emergency vehicles.

It reminded me of an inspection of my general practice by the Care Quality Commission, a detailed probing to ensure all aspects of our work pass acceptable standards.

Both CQC inspectors were so obese that they were unable to sit in the two armchairs provided for my patients — they had to lean against the examination couch and I had constant misgivings about whether it could cope with a 50 st load.

I was reminded, too, about a friend, now a dietician, who was taught at university by an academic nutritionist who was morbidly obese. The teacher was apparently oblivious to the irony of this.

Should we insist that those engaged in healthcare set a good example?

Of course we should.