Dr James Bennett is a Consultant Anaesthetist at Birmingham Childrens Hospital, which is a large busy tertiary paediatric centre.
James’ undergraduate and postgraduate training was almost entirely in London. From an early stage he realised that he wanted to specialise in paediatrics.
James is closely involved with infants and small children with liver disease undergoing liver and or bowel transplantation, as well as working in a multidisciplinary team providing long term central venous access for children with a variety of medical problems. The particular challenges he faces are the preterm infants and those requiring life-long central access for parenteral nutrition or haemodialysis.
As with all health care systems, resources are limited and the challenges James faces are often logistic rather than clinical, with increasing numbers of sick patients requiring long term vascular access being fitted into busy lines lists.
James has lectured and published widely on the subject, and perhaps best known for the percutaneous placement of 2.7Fr Broviac lines in infants less than 1kg. James believes that education about venous access is crucial to avoid harm to our patients and improve their quality of life.
James also realises that paediatric vascular access is a very demanding specialty and requires meticulous technique and attention to detail.
