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TOP-NOTCH TIME MANAGEMENT IS KEY TO SUCCESS
Wirral Life talk to Consultant Nephrologist , Dr Noshaba Naz at Spire Murrayfield Hospital , Wirral
‘ Always complete your tasks for that day ready to start afresh the next day .’ That ’ s the message from Consultant Nephrologist Dr . Noshaba Naz who patients travel to see her at Spire Wirral from far and wide .
And it ’ s not surprising , as Dr . Naz fulfils several professional positions from being the Nephrology Clinical Service Lead for an area which covers more than 400,000 people , to being an examiner for the MRCP ( Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians ) Nephrology exam and an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Liverpool . We asked her more about her achievements …
What does a nephrologist do ? I have been Consultant Nephrologist for the last six years which means I specialise in kidney diseases . This covers a broad spectrum of issues and it ’ s a much bigger area than people realise .
There are all the acute problems as well as chronic kidney conditions due to things like diabetes , hypertension and underlying heart problems and then you have patients who are on dialysis and those who have had a kidney transplant . I also specialise in rare renal problems like Glomerulonephritis or nephrotic syndrome , Vasculitis and hereditary renal problems .
About 3 % of the total NHS budget is spent on chronic kidney disease , which is huge . A chronic disease is one where once it progresses it never reverses so once you ’ re on that path it can only be managed . It is important to become aware of what can affect your kidneys . There are many things that people don ’ t realise can affect them negatively .
Can you explain what those are ? I actually gave a talk last year to help people understand what you can do to help keep your kidneys in the best of health .
Some things are as simple as eating a healthy diet , avoiding fast food , especially salt as that ’ s a silent killer and making sure you ’ re managing your weight . Others include making sure that if you do have another condition , such as diabetes or high blood pressure ( hypertension ), that it is being managed correctly as not looking after those properly can affect your kidneys further down the line . Not as commonly known is being aware what medications you take and the dangers around them , such as painkillers like ibuprofen or volterol gel which are easily available over the counter . It ’ s important to understand how they can affect your kidneys when the drugs are broken down in your system .
What keeps you motivated with such demands on your time ? One of the things that keeps me motivated is working in different areas – like my work at Spire with a different team who are absolutely lovely and for the MRCP examining board . It ’ s good to stay fresh and up to speed on new developments . I enjoy that flexibility and offering patients the opportunity to come and see me when they want to . I think that has particularly helped people post-Covid .
Tell us about how you found your calling ? I am the oldest child in my family , and I was also very studious , so my father always said – oh one day she ’ ll be a doctor , so in a way I never considered anything else . When I was studying , I always wanted to be a cardiologist . I got married not long after graduation and we moved out to Saudi Arabia for a while . The first job I got was in nephrology and I just found it so interesting and challenging , I loved the bond you create with patients because you treat many of them long term so you ’ re not just treating the physical condition you ’ re helping them deal with the emotional aspects of a chronic illness and that ’ s when I knew it was my calling .
How do you fit everything in ? I always tell women who look at this career path in a competitive specialty , you can do it . The girls can do it ! I ’ m a big advocate for that . I have a well-rounded lifestyle , I ’ m married with three children , and I think it ’ s important to encourage women , you can be assertive and lead in managerial positions , and I certainly tell my own daughters this . You must believe in yourself , but key to it is that everyone must respect each other , regardless of age , race , man , woman . That ’ s the only way we ’ re going to move forward .
At Spire Murrayfield Hospital Wirral , our consultants have wide experience in the latest techniques and innovations and our inclusive prices and access to 0 % finance options make the process easy and more affordable . For further information on our broad range of procedures , and to find out more about our team of expert Consultants , search ‘ Spire Wirral ’ or call our specialist advisors on 0151 929 5408 .
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