David Cartland is a non-GMC-registered medically-qualified healthcare advisor. He previously worked as an NHS GP and in Urgent Care Cornwall.

NB following a decision by the General Medical Council (GMC), David Cartland, although highly medically trained, is now a non-GMC-registered healthcare advisor.

"I tentatively walked into the room facing a panel and my arch nemesis, the admissions tutor, who I had eagerly chased around the medical school for the best part of four years to get this opportunity. Braced for the question ‘Why do you want to be a doctor?’ After introductions, I was completely hoodwinked by the initial enquiry. I was asked what my parents did for a living! My stomach sank as I was thrown. I am a working-class Brummie lad who happened to have an enquiring mind, photographic memory, and a nuance for all things science, but my upbringing was not one associated with the private school backgrounds and affluence that the profession traditionally attracted mainly due to the cost of training. Without sounding like our latest WEF preferring Prime Minister, my dad was a toolmaker, and my mom worked part-time in retail. I had two brothers, and I was the middle child; we had what I would call a ‘proper 90’s’ upbringing filled with outside living, lots of friends, playing sport and being out until dusk. We just about got by and looking back now, I fully appreciate the sacrifices my parents made to put food on the table and keep us clothed and looked after. A proper working-class family unit.

"Then on to the next question, 'Why do you want to become a doctor, David?' After a short pause, my mind went blank, and my previous premeditated answer evaporated. I was left in that moment to speak from my heart, palms sweating and voice shaky. I cannot remember the exact wording, but it focussed entirely on my deep-seated wish and hope to live my life helping people through their physical, mental, and sociological ill health and distresses. It wasn’t as much a hope than an obsession given my whole life had been geared to doing the degree to enable me in this passion. I added more depth to the response, but it was all about caring for my patient in their hour of need. That is the crux of why I gave my life to this profession. I stand by my reply to this day and often go back to this response when people enquire about why I spoke out during the pandemic. My patients. Primum non nocere. My willingness to help people heal and hear them in their time of need and vulnerability. Do No Harm.