Dr Rob Fleming, Honorary Membership Secretary

Dr Rob Fleming is a specialist (SAS) anaesthetist at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He is an Elected Board Member since 2019, now Honorary Membership Secretary. His clinical interests are obstetric and regional anaesthesia.

Why did you stand for election to board?

I have an overdeveloped sense of fairness, and wanted to try and make things better for SAS and locally-employed anaesthetists. Having been a SAS committee member at the RCoA, when the Association was looking specifically for a SAS anaesthetist to join board, I jumped at the chance.

Why did you decide to become an anaesthetist/doctor?

I had a spell on paediatric intensive care when I was very small, and I wanted to be a doctor ever since. Clever people saved my life, and I wanted to be like them. I became an anaesthetist because it suited my need to use both my head and my hands in my work. I still think it is the best job in medicine.

What do you like most about your job?

There is something very honourable about a career dedicated to alleviating pain and anxiety. Done well, successful anaesthesia is not just about clever techniques, although clever techniques have their place. It is about being the reassuring voice when everything else is going awry. It is an enormous source of pride whenever I feel I have achieved this.

Who or what inspires you to do your best work?

I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some wonderful people from all groups within anaesthesia. Day to day, I am most inspired by these colleagues. We can always learn a lot from one another.

I became an anaesthetist because it suited my need to use both my head and my hands in my work. I still think it is the best job in medicine.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I bake a lot of bread, and have a sourdough starter called Herman. I like photography, and have a small collection of old digital camera bodies and lenses. I also play bass in a band, when time allows.

Social media handles:

I am @RobJimFleming, on the app formerly known as Twitter.