60 Second Interview: Dr Paul O’Reilly

Dr Paul O’Reilly, a GP Partner at the Doctor Hickey Surgery in London.

Dr Paul O’Reilly is a GP Partner at The Doctor Hickey Surgery – a general practice in Central London for homeless people, contracted by Westminster PCT.

What’s the first thing you do when you get into the office?

In a single fluid movement, switch on the computer, the panic alarm and the kettle and smile sweetly to the receptionist (the last being the most essential – if she’s on good form, it makes all the difference to the rest of my day).

Your favourite gadget at the moment?

Treo 600 – now old & tattered, but still unsurpassed at the basic job of getting me to the right place, at the right time, for the right reason and with the right information under my thumbs.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Making people better – it’s what I said at my medical school interview twenty-ahem years ago. But I really mean it now! I’m now doing GP for homeless people and it’s by far the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.

Favourite book or song (or both!)?

Book: The Bible

Song: It Ain’t Necessarily So by George and Ira Gershwin

Pet hate?

My current patient database – old, slow, clunky, underspecified, poorly configured, badly networked – and only the PCT think it’s fit for purpose (need I say more?).

Favourite website?

Well, apart of course from EHI, www.pray-as-you-go.org/ – the only legal hit I know that can get my mind on higher things without a hangover.

What annoys you?

See pet hate! But also government ministers who defend the indefensible for months or years and then – overnight – change their position.

In a perfect world, what would you be doing?

Pretty much what I’m doing now – but I might be better at it. And I’d certainly have a better patient database!

What’s caught your eye recently?

Growing recognition that greater access to cannabis and 24 hour drinking has actually had the deleterious effects on young people’s health that everyone other than government ministers knew it would.

e-Health innovation that interests you at the moment?

Mobile devices that can access medical records in real time. I go into homeless hostels & day centres a lot and having access to my patients’ records in that context would make a big difference to my work.

Read EHI Primary Care? We want to get to know you! If you work in NHS IT and would be happy to take part in a 60 second interview contact E-Health Inside Primary Care reporter Joe Fernandez on: joe@e-health-media.com Tel. 0207 7856901