Doc travels from India to work at Derriford

AND IT'S THE ELEVENTH CHRISTMAS HE'S DONE IT!

A DOCTOR who travels from India to help out at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital during the busy festive period has been dubbed the ‘Christmas Fairy’ by hospital staff.

Dr Suresh Damodharan is an endocrinology and general medicine consultant who normally works in Sri Ramakrishna Hospital in Coimbatore, India, but for the last 11 years he has been working over the Christmas period at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP), leading to him being coined ‘the Christmas fairy’ by staff at Derriford.

Recognising the pressure that the city hospital faces over winter, Suresh gives two weeks of his time to help to support patients and staff, ensuring there is senior cover for patients from the Emergency Department’s front door through to the wards.

Reflecting on why he thinks it is important for him to work during this time, Suresh said: “Even though it would be nicer for me to come and work in the summer, I appreciate that my help is most valuable in the winter, not only because the hospital is busy, but also because it gives the staff at UHP a chance to take more time off with their families over the festive period”.