News from Newham

Dr Kulasegaram Ranjadayalan, known to everyone as “Ranjan”, is retiring at the end of February from his post as consultant cardiologist at Newham Hospital and the Barts Heart Centre. In a blog, Dr Ranjan writes about his 30 year experience working at Barts Health. 

I joined Newham General Hospital (the name it was known by then) in 1988 initially as a registrar in acute medicine. Soon after this I continued as a research fellow in cardiology under Prof Timmis. In 1992, I was appointed as the first staff physician in cardiology and respiratory medicine and subsequently as a consultant cardiologist  in 1994. The background to the creation of this new consultant post  was to run a daily Open Access Chest Pain Clinic which was set up by Prof Timmis  in collaboration with the primary care trust. Due to its huge success and popularity, this clinic was commended as a model service for other trusts to follow in the first ever National Service Framework in Cardiology published in 2000.

The Newham Cardiology Team received several awards locally, as the ‘best caring and supportive team’ and also recognised nationally for its innovation of services and delivery of best care. I am fortunate to be part of such a successful, enthusiastic and caring team.

I always wanted to study medicine from way back in my school days, listening to encouraging stories from my teachers and family members. My fascination in listening to the heart sounds during my student days combined with the experience of managing cardiac patients both in Sri Lanka and in the UK , made me choose cardiology as my chosen career.

I am very fortunate and grateful to Prof Timmis who offered me the first opportunity to be trained in clinical cardiology as well as to be involved in cardiology research. I managed to author and co-author several publications in well reputed national (BMJ, Heart)  and international Journals (like JACC, Circulation , The New England Journal of Medicine) and presentations in national and international ccientific meetings. These achievements would not have been possible if not for Prof Timmis's support and supervision .

I am ever so grateful for all the support I received from my colleagues, staff in the Foxglove unit and diagnostics, ACU, emergency department and outpatients. I cannot thank them enough for the care, efficiency and team work which made my stay at Newham Hospital pleasant and successful. I will miss all of them.

I will be continuing to do some clinical work in the community (NHS and private) to keep my skills intact. I hope to be able to travel around the world when the pandemic situation settles.

Commenting on Dr Ranjan's retirement and his achievements at Barts Health, Dr Andrew Kelso, medical director at Newham Hospital, said: 

“Dr Ranjan is the stuff that legends are made of. A true friend of Newham Hospital and its patients, he will be sorely missed, and leaves big shoes to fill. I wish him joy and happiness in his well-deserved retirement.”

Professor Charles Knight OBE, chief executive of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, said:

“Dr Ranjan is an exceptional cardiologist who has made an enormous difference to so many patients with heart disease over his career. His commitment to caring for the communities of north east London cannot be overstated. His workload and industry are simply legendary. On behalf of colleagues at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, we will miss him a great deal and wish him all the very best for his future travels around the world.”

Read Professor Adam Timmis’ tribute to Dr Ranjan on his long-spanning career.