NHS surgeon to brave the shave for Love Your Hospital charity

Miguel Oliveira, who lives in Church Lane, Barnham, set an initial target of £500 but has already soared past that to raise more than £1,000 for Love Your Hospital, the dedicated charity for the trust which runs Worthing Hospital, Southlands Hospital in Shoreham, and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.

Miguel, 50, has worked in the NHS for 25 years, with the past ten years spent as a specialist in hand and wrist surgery at St Richard’s.

He said: “When I came out of 15 weeks working through lockdown, with my hair having grown so long, I thought it was a good opportunity to raise some funds for Love Your Hospital.

“This charity is special for all of us that work at Western Sussex because it is the dedicated charity for our three hospitals and all the funds stay local.

“They have also set up a Covid-19 fund which has helped patients and staff through this difficult period which we continue to go through.

“I also felt that it was unfair on my local barbers to walk in looking like this!”

Miguel has also set up a Facebook page to promote his head shave, where he has been sharing stories about some of the incredible people he has met while working for the NHS in West Sussex.

He said: “This has given me the opportunity to support the charity but it has also given me a (little) platform to talk about some of the amazing people that work in the NHS in unsung roles that our patients might not always encounter.

“This is one of the best things that has come out of all this!”

Among the inspirational people Miguel has highlighted are scrub nurse Mike, recovery nurse Tanya, Mick and Michael from the night security team, outpatient nurses Debbie and Lynda, and plaster technician Linda – visit his Facebook page to read more.

On his JustGiving page Miguel has also noted an historical connection between barbers and surgeons.

He said: In the Middle Ages, doctors were not surgeons and this role was instead carried out by barbers, or ‘barber surgeons’, who were able not only to cut hair but could also carry out surgical procedures ranging from blood letting to amputation.

“In England, we still have reminders of this link, most notably the red and white barber’s pole, which is traditionally said to represent the blood-soaked bandages, and the fact that I am now referred to by the term ‘Mr’ rather than ‘Dr’ since passing my surgical exams.

“This used to be a lower title than that of the physicians, because barber surgeons did not have a university education, but nowadays all surgeons-in-training start off as a Dr and they aspire to the day when they can become a Mr or a Miss because this signifies a significant step in their progress.”

Mr Oliveira is getting his lockdown locks shaved off at St Richard’s Hospital at midday tomorrow (July 31).

Visit Miguel’s JustGiving page to donate to his fundraiser for Love Your Hospital.

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