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Dr Mike Baxter retires after 20 years
Written by Communications Team   

Dr Mike Baxter, Consultant and Medical Director at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has retired from the NHS and from over 20 years service with the Trust. Mike first joined Ashford and St Peter’s in 1992 as a consultant diabetologist and endocrinologist, becoming Clinical Director of medicine in 1995, a post he held for seven years, before becoming the Trust’s Medical Director ten years ago in 2002. Around a hundred members of staff – past and present – came to wish him well on Wednesday 25th January at his leaving party.

  Dr Baxter began his career with a BSc and then a PhD in biochemistry at Birmingham University before deciding to train as a doctor and self financing his studies at Nottingham University – Mike recounts that he spent a grand total of 11 years at University with his father despairing that he would ever gain useful employment!

“I really loved everything about being a medical student and doctor,” Mike explains, “and I can still remember my first day on the wards and the respect I felt for the Senior Registrar that I met that day. I remember thinking if I ever get to be like him - professional but kind and caring and totally committed to doing the right thing - then I will really have achieved something!” His first post after training was in Nottingham before going to London to be a Senior House Officer (SHO) at the Brompton and Hammersmith Hospital. He was a Registrar at the Hammersmith for 2 years before moving on to be Senior Registrar and Lecturer in Medicine at Birmingham University. Moving back down to St Peter’s to take up his first consultant’s post in 1992 Mike felt he was returning to his roots as he was originally brought up in Guildford.


During his time at Ashford and St Peter’s Mike has brought his talents and enthusiasm to a range of projects large and small. After the development of a modern diabetic service at Ashford and St Peter’s, one of the most memorable projects was his drive in creating the Stephanie Marks Diabetes Resource Centre, in memory of one of his patients Stephanie Marks who tragically died aged only 17. Mike spearheaded an extremely successful campaign which raised just over £1m and saw the new dedicated centre open at St Peter’s Hospital in 2010.

Mike was also an important force in the Trust’s successful application for becoming a Foundation Trust, which was achieved in 2010.

Mike will continue work as a diabetologist/endocrinologist, and as an independent medical advisor, doing work both in the NHS and the commercial health sector. He said: “Leaving Ashford and St Peter's has brought a huge mix of emotions; I feel excited, terrified and sad. The Trust has been a huge part of my life for so long and I will always remember the wonderful patients, staff and colleagues who have made this time such a happy period in my life, but after over 20 years it feels right to move on and face a different challenge. This move will call on all the skills and experiences that have been developed at the Trust and will also bring me back to my clinical specialty, of diabetes. Thank you to everyone at Ashford and St Peter’s for being my friends and colleagues and I will miss you all hugely."

Andrew Liles, Chief Executive, added: "Mike has put such an enormous amount of passion and commitment into Ashford and St Peter's during his 20 years here. He really cares about all the people here - staff and patients - and that is what we will miss the most. We wish him every success for the future."

The Trust welcomes Consultant Cardiologist Dr David Fluck as the new interim Medical Director. Dr Fluck has been with the Trust since 1996 and was previously Deputy Medical Director.
Last Updated on Friday, 03 February 2012 17:48