I trained as a State Registered Nurse qualifying in 1977. I then went on to study midwifery before returning to general nursing working in A&E and fracture and orthopaedics. In 1991 I qualified as ...view moreI trained as a State Registered Nurse qualifying in 1977. I then went on to study midwifery before returning to general nursing working in A&E and fracture and orthopaedics. In 1991 I qualified as a health visitor and worked in Cumbria and North-East England. The following year I was asked to work with the Dept of Health developing services within primary care for patients with drug and alcohol problems. at the end of this 1 year project I returned to health visiting and also completed an MA in Counselling at Durham University. In 2002 I was appointed as a Nurse Consultant in Obesity management and established the first nurse-led, community-based, NHS service in the country. The service was commended by, amongst others Derek Wanless describing it as an example of best practice. I was the first nurse able to prescribe anti-obesity medication and also developed an 'expertise' which enabled me to assess patient's suitability for consideration of bariatric surgery. I retired from the NHS in 2008 but continued to work with the overweight and obese and have recently put my knowledge and understanding of overweight and obesity into print.view less