Chief Medical Officer
MB ChB (Hons), FRCS (England), FRACS (Vascular), AFRACMA Adjunct Professor, Deakin University.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Matthew attended medical school at St Andrews in Manchester and completed training as a vascular surgeon through the North of England Training scheme. He was appointed as consultant vascular surgeon at Pennine Acute NHS Trust in Oldham (his home town) and later, Clinical Director of General Surgery before relocating to Australia.
Matthew and his family moved to Ballarat in 2012, to take up the position of vascular surgeon and Clinical Director at Ballarat Health Services, and covered management of all aspects of surgery, anesthetics and perioperative services.
His interest in training and medical administration started early on in his career, and he has been actively involved in health service development across a number of projects, including the complex merger of four separate hospitals into a large multi-campus service in the northwest of England; an area that was identified as being most in need of improved health outcomes, which that project ultimately delivered.
Alongside his clinical work, Matthew has been actively involved with: the Victorian Clinical Council (as the inaugural deputy chair), the Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council; and is the current chair of the Victorian State Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
The step into the role of Chief Medical Officer is a natural one for Matthew, and will harness the many years of accumulated experience he has to offer.
“My first 10 years working as a consultant in my hometown, amongst friends and family, gave me the unique view of healthcare as part of the community, and that what we provide is far more than an impersonal service.
“I can feel the same sense of community and trust here, ever since moving to Australia and to this region, and the chance to give back to a community that has welcomed me and my family is really exciting.”
“My experience in England, helping to guide the merger of four hospitals was a huge experience. The opportunity to use that knowledge to help guide a similar amalgamation was not something I ever thought would happen – but it is really exciting – and I have seen firsthand how such changes can benefit the whole community. I have no doubt we can achieve just as much success here in Grampians Health.
“I think we have the opportunity to build a health service that can provide the health care that our communities truly deserve.”