Emmett O’Flaherty

Emmett O’Flaherty is a Senior Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedics at St George’s and features in episode 2 of Emergency as he treats 12-year-old Lily who is rushed into St George’s A&E after being hit by a car.

Here we catch up with him…

How long have you worked at St George’s? What made you think St George’s was the place for you?

I have worked in St George’s Hospital for the last twelve months. I had just finished my higher surgical training in Orthopaedic Surgery in Scotland and embarked on a twelve-month upper limb with the St George’s team.  The upper limb team, comprising of Professor Tennent, Mr Arnander and Mr Pearse, conduct a world-renowned post-CCT fellowship in shoulder surgery and when the opportunity arose to work with this group, I literally jumped at the chance.

Can you tell us about your specific role?

My role as the upper limb fellow was to liaise with the general trauma on-call team and co-ordinate care of trauma patients, who required subspecialist upper limb treatment and surgeries. The fellow is also heavily involved in outpatient clinics, elective surgery and research within the Unit.

What made you want to get into this area of medicine?

I have a background in clinical research. Orthopaedic surgery is a progressive specialty and provides the perfect blend of clinical technological innovation and patient care.

How did you find filming for Emergency?

The filming crew were incredibly professional. They were almost like phantoms. They were there, but they weren’t there. After a few minutes of adjusting to the fact that cameras were rolling, it was business as usual. What you see in the programme, is pretty much the real deal, with very little artifice or contrivance.

What has been your favourite part of being involved with the series?

My children getting a buzz from seeing me on telly, but admittedly it lasted 5-minutes then they went straight back to their mobile phones.

Why did you want to be a part of this series?

The NHS is an amazing organization run by dedicated and skilled people, who are often selfless in their service. I am proud to be part of this team and I feel the series shines a positive spotlight on this valuable work.

What would you say to someone who is interested in progressing into a similar career to you?

Training to be an orthopaedic surgeon is demanding and can feel like it consumes your entire life. However, the rewards definitely outweigh the slings and arrows along the way.