Fellowship success for Dr Phil Herrod

Congratulations to Dr Phil Herrod in the Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine for successfully obtaining a 2-year joint Royal College of Surgeons of England and Dunhill Medical Research fellowship.

The title of the project is: "Exploring time efficient strategies to improve fitness for surgery in older adults".

The incidence of conditions requiring surgical intervention increases with age, however there is a reported decline in the rates of elective surgical procedures in those over 65 (1). This is associated with older patients being described as “less fit” and more at risk of postoperative complications (2), leading to decreased provision of surgical care to those at need. Exercise interventions have the potential to reverse some of the decline in cardiovascular fitness associated with aging and improve the elderly’s’ “fitness for surgery” and potentially allow increased access to surgical care for those most in need of it.

References:
1. The Royal College of Surgeons of England. 2012. Access all Ages. Available at https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/publications/docs/access-all-ages [Accessed 28/2/16]

2. Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and England. 2014. Perioperative Care of the Elderly 2014. Available at
https://www.aagbi.org/sites/default/files/perioperative_care_of_the_elderly_2014.pdf [accessed 28/2/16]