To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February) we spoke to our Senior Medical Advisor Dr Fionna Moore whose distinguished career in emergency medicine and ambulance services spans over 50 years.
Fionna served as Medical Director and later Chief Executive at London Ambulance Service from 1997 to 2017 before joining South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) as Medical Director in 2017.
Fionna has been instrumental in advancing pre-hospital care and developing specialist paramedic roles and in recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal in 2021. At KSS Fionna still flies regularly as part of the clinical team on our helicopters.
Why do days like International Day of Women and Girls in Science matter?
It’s important to realise that women have such potential and that maybe it hasn’t always been recognised in the past. We’re now seeing people coming through who are really looking to realise that potential and that’s phenomenal. And it’s something that we should be celebrating.
What’s the best thing about your job?
KSS is a really good organisation to work for, with a great team spirit. People come to work here because they genuinely believe that they can help patients. Our whole purpose is getting to patients quickly, providing the best level of care we can, and trying to do all that we can for those patients and their relatives and families. It’s also a great opportunity to see new doctors and paramedics join KSS, developing their skills and knowledge and flourishing within the team.
When and why did you decide on a medical career?
I’m not sure why but when I was about seven I decided I wanted to be a doctor. Then I had a bit of a wobble and thought maybe I’d like to fly fast jets. Unfortunately at that time flying fast jets wasn’t really an option for women.
Then in my early teens, I read a really inspirational book about someone who had polio and was in an iron lung. And the influence that the clinician looking after them had on their recovery was, for me, inspirational. So that’s when I decided that I would become a doctor and not a pilot of fast jets. I’ve never regretted it.
Why were you drawn to emergency medicine and air ambulances?
I trained in surgery and seriously considered a career either plastic surgery or general surgery, but I was drawn to emergency medicine because of the immediacy of the work. Maybe it’s because I have a short attention span, but when something has to be done I like to get in there and do something, see the results of what I have done and then move onto the next thing. For me emergency medicine is about problem-solving and the immediate challenges that you can address. Moving into Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine was a different challenge, and an opportunity that didn’t really exist when I was training. I was very fortunate to work within ambulance services which made it possible for me to become involved in the clinical delivery of care. And to work in an Air Ambulance Charity is really special.
What sort of challenges did you face entering the medical profession?
When I was at school and said I wanted to go to medical school I would always be asked if I wanted to be a nurse, not a doctor. I think nurses do a fantastic job, but I wanted to be in a position to treat patients and know more about the diseases that they were suffering from.
I can’t say that I ever had any particular issues as a female medical student. I got great support from my colleagues when I initially embarked on a training in surgery although, looking back, there was certainly some fairly uncomfortable moments.
I had support from the majority of my male clinical colleagues, and most of them did what they could to encourage me and to assist me going through pregnancies and returning to work after having children, so I was really very fortunate.
How do you deal with those uncomfortable moments?
Back then, uncomfortable as I might have been, it was just a matter of cracking on with the job. I think I’d deal with them differently now, with a quick response. It’s good to know that things have moved on. For example, The Royal College of Surgeons of England and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh have both published damning reports about sexual harassment of women in surgery by individuals in a position of power.
Has anyone in particular inspired you in your career?
I’ve worked for and with some amazing people. My mentor when I was a senior registrar in emergency medicine, was an Australian intensivist called Brian Galbally who came to this country to run an Emergency Medicine Department who was immensely influential in my career and a very good friend to me and to my family.
In the ambulance service, I worked with a chap called Peter Bradley, who is now the chief executive of St John Ambulance in New Zealand. He was an inspirational leader within the London Ambulance Service and I learnt a great deal from him.
Is there a piece of advice that has stayed with you?
I think it something that Bryan said to me, which was to identify what you really think is right, decide what you want to do and follow that path.
What guidance would you give to someone starting their career?
If you’ve established that there’s something that you really want to do, you just need to go for it. You are the only person that can make it happen, and it’s your future. You need to identify potential weaknesses as well as your strengths. That will help make you a better clinician and a more rounded individual.
The other thing is not to forget the people around you, whether it’s your friends or your family. Historically doctors have been likely to leave their families just to get on with growing up. My children certainly had quite a lot of time not having me around so I think if I were speaking to my younger self I’d say try and spend time with your kids and maybe your husband as well
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