The Medical Specialist Group (MSG) has appointed two consultant anaesthetists to share one post in its clinical team.
Husband and wife Dr Nick Crabtree and Dr Claire Frampton have moved to Guernsey from the UK where they worked for the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Dr Crabtree as a consultant anaesthetist, and Dr Frampton as a consultant in pain medicine.
Born in the Netherlands, Dr Crabtree moved to England to undertake his medical training at the University of Manchester, qualifying as a consultant anaesthetist in 2009. During his time in Oxford, Dr Crabtree provided anaesthesia for the emergency, trauma and colorectal services, routinely managing both elective and emergency cases in orthopaedic trauma, interventional radiology procedures, gynaecology, and emergency airway procedures.
Dr Frampton was born in New Zealand and went to medical school at the University of Otago before moving to the UK in 2001. She was appointed as a consultant in anaesthesia and pain medicine in Oxford in 2009, working in emergency and trauma services. For the past six years Dr Frampton has specialised in pain medicine and was the joint clinical lead for Oxford University Hospital’s pain service. She says that the most fulfilling aspects of her role are helping people feel comfortable before and after their operation and helping people to understand, accept and manage chronic pain.
Their new positions at the MSG once again see them working under the same roof but this time as a job share, replacing Dr Hilary Holland, who retired in May after almost 20 years of service with the MSG.
Dr Crabtree and Dr Frampton are in good company, as the fifth married couple currently at the MSG and the second to share a post. Other duos are anaesthetic consultants Dr Richard Evans and Dr Anthea Pinder, who job share, consultant otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon Mr Richard Vowles and consultant ophthalmologist Miss Suzanne Dorey, consultant otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon Mr David Beaumont and ENT nurse Alexis Beaumont, and consultant paediatrician Dr Gopinath Rao and consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Kalaivani Ramalingam.
Dr Frampton said, ‘We’ve been given a fantastic opportunity with the MSG to not only become part of a close-knit island community but also to work together for a clinic which fosters spirited comradery through clinical excellence and providing the best possible care for its patients. I am enjoying meeting lots of new faces and getting to know the team.’
Dr Crabtree added, ‘While this isn’t our first time working together, it is our first job share. We have a young family so it’s great having that split to allow us to work around our home life.’
Dr Richard Evans, who chairs the MSG’s anaesthesia directorate, said, ‘It is very good news for patients that we have gained not one but two brilliant and experienced clinicians. The MSG’s consultant-only model means our specialists need to have an impressive breadth of expertise to care for our diverse island population. Claire and Nick’s shared range of clinical knowledge in anaesthesia is exemplary and very complementary to their joint role.’
