30 Mar 2025
London’s Air Ambulance is made up of a unique team of expert doctors, paramedics and pilots, who are dedicated to providing London with world-class medical care when a life is on the line. One of those doctors is Dr. Chrissie Hymers, who we spoke with to mark this year’s Doctor’s Day.
Name: Dr Chrissie Hymers
Role: Consultant with London's Air Ambulance
What inspired you to become a doctor and how did your journey begin?
If I'm really honest, I'm not completely sure what made me pick medicine. I do remember a teacher at school saying they didn't think I'd ever get the grades and that I should consider other options. That was probably enough to make me dig my heels in and decide to prove them wrong.
I knew I wanted a job that involved working with and talking to people, I'd loved waitressing and bar work as a teenager and I loved the idea of going to university. So, my journey began in East London at Barts and London Medical school back in 1998.
Your role at London’s Air Ambulance – what does your day to day look like?
As a consultant with London's Air Ambulance, I work regular shifts alongside a paramedic and fellow. It's an early start on the Medic 1 shift with my alarm going off at 5am, trying to creep out the house without waking anyone.
The helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) daily routine involves checking the equipment and drugs that we carry in both the rapid response car and the helicopter. This is followed by a daily brief with the pilots and fire crew, and a review of the cases that the teams had attended in the last 24 hours.
I'd encourage newer members of the team to always take the opportunity to ensure they're fed and watered. Never say no to the offer of a cup of tea between cases.
What words of advice would you give someone who wants to work within the medical industry?
Both Emergency Medicine and the NHS are very different today compared to when I became a doctor in 2003, the challenges and pressures are very real. I love being a pre-hospital and emergency medicine doctor, but over the last few years I have become more aware of the need to make my career sustainable and try to avoid burnout. Having a portfolio career with different interests that complement each other is much more common nowadays.
What’s the best thing about being a doctor?
It feels like a huge privilege to do a job that I love, no two days are ever the same and the team of people I work alongside are incredible. I have a really short concentration span so emergency medicine and pre-hospital medicine are perfect for me.
The job I do keeps me on my toes and can be very humbling. I get to treat and help patients when they are at their most vulnerable. There is a lesson I can learn from every patient and some of the stories I get to hear and the people I can make a difference to, make me feel very lucky.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in your training – what should aspiring doctors prepare themselves for?
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I think one of the biggest challenges I faced in my training was the one I created for myself when I decided I wanted to work in pre-hospital emergency medicine. It's quite competitive, involves really hard work and came with some sacrifices, albeit of my own choosing. Saying that, it's provided some fantastic opportunities, I've worked in some amazing places and met some truly inspirational people, some of whom are now my close friends.
How have you found your return to work following maternity leave – what challenges and opportunities has this experience held?
Returning to work has been a real mix of emotions. I absolutely loved my maternity leave, it gave me the opportunity to spend much more time with friends and family, watch the Olympics and the football in my garden in the sunshine. I was able to take my daughter to school every day for her first term and there was more time for exercise. I think it was also really healthy to have some time away from the pressures of my job, it takes a toll that we sometimes forget or ignore. It's now great to be back doing what I love in the emergency department and with London's Air Ambulance.