Doctor's gut feeling led to greatness
Central Middlesex Hospital’s ambulatory care and diagnostic centre (ACAD) celebrates its 20thanniversary next week. We’ll taking a look at some of the staff past and present who have helped shape the hospital.
A fellow doctor who’d worked alongside Francis Avery Jones for several years asked if he ever took a holiday.
“Of course, I had one last year,” replied the ageing gastroenterologist.
It turned out the ‘holiday’ had been Sunday 26 July.
The tireless Avery Jones regularly worked 16 hour days saying it was important to ‘keep many pots on the hob because one will always come to boil.’ And boil they did.
His achievements included management of peptic ulcers and the development of gastroscopy and endoscopic procedures.
Avery Jones eschewed a permanent desk and office preferring to be in perpetual orbit around Central Middlesex Hospital.
Colleagues said he was never flustered despite his workload and ‘radiated confidence leaving everyone feeling better for his visit.’
He developed an interest in the role of diet in medical treatment and helped push through major changes in the quality of hospital food as well as the training of catering staff and redesign of kitchens.
Avery Jones held numerous positions including being a consultant for St Mark’s Hospital and the Royal Navy, President of the Medical Society of London and editor of Gut.
Francis Avery Jones died in1998.