LOUISE MCNUTT

CLASS OF 2003

Palliative Care Consultant

Some 20 years have passed since I left Belfast High School, but memories of a school life I so enjoyed and my experiences there remain as fresh as ever. Whilst academically, the excellent teaching I received helped me to succeed in attaining a place to study medicine, I particularly relished the warm and personal atmosphere and the range of other opportunities I was able to avail of.

After leaving school in 2003, I went on to study medicine at Cambridge University and subsequently at University College London. During my junior doctor training in London, I developed an interest in palliative care. I embarked on specialist palliative medicine training in 2013 after moving home to Northern Ireland, and became a consultant in 2020. I work in a role that encompasses caring for patients with specialist palliative care needs both in inpatient hospice and hospital settings, as well as in their own homes.

Whilst of course it can often be incredibly sad, I thoroughly enjoy my job. It is a privilege to care for patients with life-limiting illness and contrary to what some may think, our team is often involved for many months and not only in the last days or weeks of life. I work within a wonderful multidisciplinary team to deliver holistic care to patients and their loved ones. Effective teamwork is at the core of what we do and personally, this is a skill that I began developing from the outset of my time at Belfast High School.

By participating in some of the many extracurricular activities on offer, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award, choir, orchestra, hockey, netball and a variety of school trips (a highlight being a visit to Peru), I developed an early appreciation of the importance of teamwork in different settings. These opportunities also equipped me with a range of other skills and values, such as compassion, respect, integrity, leadership and hard work, which stood me in good stead as I progressed through my studies and of course are invaluable in everyday life and in my role as a doctor.

I now have the opportunity on a weekly basis to witness a number of current BHS pupils teaching my own daughter in a dance and drama class. I am genuinely in awe of their talent, kindness, maturity, teaching skills and patience – they are a wonderful reflection of Belfast High School today.