Publish date: 6 January 2025
Meet the Team in Berwick - Peter Douglas
I’ve been doing clinics and minor operating lists at Berwick Infirmary since 2011. We moved to Alnwick Infirmary during the rebuild but are looking forward to returning to Berwick next year.
Brief career history?
I am an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, born in Berwick. My father was in the police so we moved to Morpeth where I was educated at Morpeth King Edward VI School. I then attended Sheffield University Dental School and Leicester Medical School. Fellowships in Dental Surgery from Royal College of Surgeons in England and Edinburgh and Fellow in Surgery of RCS Ed. I have worked in Sheffield, Leicester, Manchester, Glasgow, Torbay and Newcastle and have been full time at Northumbria since 2015.
Why do you love working in Berwick?
I have very much enjoyed my time working in Berwick. The patients have always been friendly and they have a resilience that patients from elsewhere in Northumbria don’t always have.
Can you share a couple of fond memories of working in the infirmary over the years?
I loved working in the old theatre suite as it reminded me of the theatres when I first started my career. Theatres suites now are modern, more efficient and are better equipped to handle current challenges, but the old one brought me feeling of nostalgia.
How do you feel seeing the new hospital being built?
Every time I’ve travelled up to Berwick, I have watched the new hospital grow larger. There’s no doubt it will be a fabulous place with much improved facilities for patients but there’s a part of me will miss the old place. However, that’s progress and the people of Berwick and north Northumberland really deserve this facility.
How will the new hospital improve your role?
The new hospital will allow treatment in both outpatients and theatre so there’s potential to perform larger procedures. Once the hospital is up and running, there’s also the possibility to develop the dental services in Berwick which would be a great asset to patients.
How do you think the new hospital will improve patient care/experience?
With state-of-the-art facilities, I think the new hospital will be very comfortable for patients and a great asset to Berwick and the surrounding areas. As it will have a GP practice on-site, patients will be able to receive both primary and secondary care from one central point, making processes more streamlined for them.
Where were you born, where do you live and what do you do to relax?
I am Berwick-born at Castle Hills, the old maternity hospital which has since been converted into a private residence. I love Berwick and the surrounding area, and I frequently return for days out and occasional weekends. Walking and cycling are two of my passions, particularly in north Northumberland.