A CONSULTANT from Redditch's Alexandra Hospital has been named physician of the year by the Association of Pakistani Physicians and Surgeons UK.

Dr Ishfaq Ahmad, consultant gastroenterologist at the Alex, was presented with the award at a ceremony by Syed Ibne Abbas, the Pakistan high commissioner to the UK.

The award was given to Dr Ahmad in recognition of his services to the NHS, his media campaigns about health awareness in the ethnic community and his work on community welfare projects.

Dr Ahmad has taken part in three live TV programmes on Sky Asian channels, broadcast in Urdu – raising awareness of viral hepatitis, heartburn and cancer screening.

He also fundraises to support medical student scholarships and a charity hospital trust in Pakistan.

In Redditch, Dr Ahmad has set up a one-stop jaundice clinic, led the bowel cancer screening programme for Redditch and Bromsgrove and fundraised for state-of-the-art equipment for the endoscopy department at the Alexandra Hospital.

He is also clinical lead for the Worcestershire colorectal cancer multi-disciplinary team.

His research and case reports have been published in peer reviewed medical journals, and he has presented his work at national and international gastroenterology conferences.

Dr Ahmad said: “I was excited to learn that I had won this award.

"It was a proud moment, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of rest of the teams in medicine, gastroenterology, endoscopy and radiology at the Alexandra Hospital. I am grateful for the support of all my colleagues, and I see this award as an incentive for us all to continue to provide the best possible patient care.”

Chris Tidman, Interim Chief Executive of the trust running the Alex said: “This award is fantastic recognition for both Dr Ahmad individually as well as the whole medicine team at the Alexandra Hospital.”