Two CHS doctors are playing their own role in the Olympics, as NHS experts.

Both Orthopaedic Surgeon, Sanjay Sinha, and Consultant Anaesthetist, Kim Hughes, have been chosen to be part of the Olympics medical team. Here are their stories so far:

Sanjay Sinha

I have a very strong sporting background so as soon as I found out about the opportunity I was keen to be part of it. 

 I have played a lot of cricket up to a professional level before, during and after I started medical school right through to the beginning of my medical career. Since 1995 I have been involved in managing sports injuries, particularly in cricket and was part of the medical team in world cup cricket in the past. I have previously done some work with the Olympic test event a few months ago as a sports medicine doctor for the world shooting competition.

I feel very lucky and honored to have been chosen to be part of the medical Olympic team. I will be in field of play (FOP) recovery team and my job will be to manage injuries in the actual area of play. I will be  covering five sporting events : road cycling, marathon, triathlon , marathon swimming  and walking(road race), and while I am not officially covering beach volleyball I am part of the medical team there so will be at the Horse Guards Parade if needed.

I am working 12 days of the 14 days of Olympics, mostly for about 10 hours, 8am-6pm. Luckily my department has been able to support me to take the leave required to do this, 

Overall I really feel really proud to be working for Olympics medical team and to be part of The Games 2012. 

Kim Hughes

I volunteered to join the medical team about two years ago and had to wait a whole year until they called me to interview me about myself and my skills, then in January 2012 I was offered the post of Recovery Team leader in the Olympic Stadium on the field of play.

As part of my role I’ve been trained on everything from equal opportunities to how to administer a paracetamol!

I had my first shift there at the opening ceremony practice last Wednesday - watching the technical rehearsal of the opening ceremony at ground level, a few feet from the drummers was fantastic.

I have six further shifts at the stadium where I will be in charge of one of four recovery teams on the field of play looking after the athletes and officials. We are positioned one team in each quarter; the teams consist of nurses, paramedics, doctors (mostly specialists in sports medicine and anaesthetists).

It does feel an amazing privilege to be there and I am very excited about being so close to the action; getting home is tricky because of the crowds who all think my shoulders are convenient to lean on (as I am only 1.57m.), but it’s worth it!