There are many people who contribute to the day-to-day running of Sobell House, and we thought you might like to get to know a few of them a bit better. In this article, we’re going to meet Matt, one of our hospital palliative care team members. We’ll find out a bit more about the team that Matt works in, one of Matt’s (sandy) highlights at Sobell House, plus his interesting culinary past!

What’s your job title?
Consultant in Palliative Medicine.

How long have you worked at Sobell House?
Two years – I previously worked at University College London Hospital. It’s flown by!

What is the hospital palliative care team?
The team cares for hundreds of patients every year, providing expert advice on symptom management, end of life care, discharge plans, and advance care planning. They play a crucial role in ensuring excellent palliative and end of life care is available to everyone, no matter where they are being cared for.

What areas does the team cover?
Our palliative care service is provided across all of the Oxford University Hospital sites; John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Horton General Hospital, and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.

What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about your job?
That I review and support patients at all stages of illness, be that those who are dying, those who have a limited life expectancy and those who are undergoing curative treatment with an aim to cure. Our skills in symptom control and improving quality of life extend to all patients so there is a breadth of patients I work with.

Can you name a memorable moment since working at Sobell House?
When I was working on the inpatient unit one week prior to the first lockdown, we had a patient who missed the seaside. We supported a seaside-themed party in the day centre room for her and her family to enjoy, which included sand and an ice cream machine. I was on call that weekend and the party was a huge success. We all learnt that even though you may not be on the beach, sand still gets everywhere!

Can you tell us an interesting fact about yourself?
I really enjoy cooking (and eating!) and for 8 years whilst a junior doctor I helped to run a pub and a restaurant, developing dishes and menus with the chef. Being a doctor has my full attention now but I do still dabble in food and cookery.

We have so many wonderful staff members, and they all have amazing stories to tell! If you’d like to get to know more of our staff members, please visit our Meet the Team page.