Alastair qualified with Distinction in Medicine from Sheffield Medical School in 1991. He has been a General Practitioner since 1997 and joined the Academic Unit of Primary Health Care in 2001. His overall career aim is to produce nationally and internationally valued primary care research and promote and deliver high quality clinical care and teaching in the context of academic and clinical multi-disciplinary teams.
Alastair leads a programme of research into the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of acute infections in primary care that contributes to the University’s Infection and Immunity and Population Health themes. Alastair’s programme has three aims:
These aims are supported by grants totalling over £5 million with notable original contributions to the literature including evidence regarding the natural history of acute cough in children (Family Practice 2003), the use of antipyretics for the treatment of fever in young children managed in the home (BMJ 2008) and research demonstrating a relationship between the prescribing of primary care antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2005 and BMJ 2010).
Alastair leads the organisation of the Primary Health Care teaching of communication skills to Bristol medical students. On the postgraduate side, he teaches Evidence Based Medicine and Critical Appraisal skills to support GP STs in the South West pass their nMRCGP examination.
Alastair has been a PMS Principal General Practitioner at the Lennard Surgery in South Bristol working two sessions per week since 2002. He participates in practice and PCT appraisal and he is the practice lead for research. He aims to foster long-term relationships with his patients (providing good continuity of care) and build good working relationships with local colleagues in order to exploit all opportunities for research.