'It's not spare time, it's my time'

Television GP Dr Amir Khan talks about prioritising self-care, the benefits of being in nature and why he went into medicine

- EVE MACDONALD

Dr Amir Khan truly is a ray of sunshine. He’s charming, polite, honest… In fact, when we catch up with the GP and best-selling author, we feel immediately at ease – the quality everyone wants from their doctor.

And with 20 years of working for the NHS under his belt, Amir – one of seven siblings – certainly knows his stuff. But the 42-year-old is also happy to admit that life isn’t always rosy.

At the heart of everything he does are his patients. Amir still works full-time in his surgery, while being resident doctor for ITV’s Lorraine and Good Morning Britain – and he has recently been hosting Channel 5’s Sugar Crash and You Are What You Eat.

With such a hectic schedule, Amir says that nature – wildlife in particular – is so important to him. His garden in Bramhope, West Yorkshire, a village 10 miles north of where he grew up, offers him constant joy away from the daily pressures of GP life and giving out health advice on live TV.

Here, Amir chats about how he likes to relax after an emotional day, reveals his most hilarious on-air blunder and tells us where his happy place is…

Hi, Amir. It’s no secret that you have a lot to juggle. How do you manage your time and workload?

Sometimes it’s hard. There are sacrifices, but my priority is always being a GP and making sure I’m there for my patients. Then it’s a balancing act, but I’m lucky I have a really good family and support. ITV is also flexible and often lets me film from the surgery if I can’t get down to the studios. I’m beginning to learn how to prioritise my personal time, too. Before, I’d think, “Oh, I have a few hours spare, I’ll fit something in,” but I now know when to say no. It’s not “spare time”, it’s “my time”.