Dr Sarah Jarvis is appointed University's Visiting Professor of General Practice

SINCE the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic, medical broadcaster and GP Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE, has delivered reliable medical advice on all aspects of the coronavirus and has been a much needed and reassuring voice for the nation throughout the outbreak. 

Now, in recognition of this crucial work to share her expertise and deliver fact-based health information to the public, Dr Jarvis has been appointed Visiting Professor of General Practice at the University of Huddersfield. 

Viewed by many as one of the nation’s most trusted medical experts, when Dr Jarvis isn’t discussing the coronavirus and the global pandemic, she can be heard offering advice and information on a wide range of health issues from medical breakthroughs in hearing aids, to long-suffering and embarrassing ailments such as chronic hiccups.

Dr Jarvis is the resident medical advisor for the Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2 and has been the GP for The One Show on BBC One for over a decade. She also makes regular appearances on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, BBC World News, BBC Radio 4, Radio 5 live, Channel 5 news and Global’s talk radio station LBC.

Dr Jarvis’ links with the University originated after Professor Karen Ousey, Director of the University’s Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention (ISIaIP), invited Dr Jarvis to become Patron of the research institute. The pair had remained in contact after they initially met at a national diabetes conference where Dr Jarvis was chairing a seminar on diabetes-related foot problems. 

The award-winning ISIaIP consists of a multidisciplinary research team and places the University at the forefront of research and teaching in the management of acute and chronic non-healing wounds. 

“I've had the privilege of knowing Professor Ousey for some time and her passion is infectious,” said Dr Jarvis, whose current role as Patron of the ISIaIP will continue alongside the Visiting Professorship. 

“Knowing the amazing work that goes on at the Institute, I feel truly honoured to be appointed as the University’s Visiting Professor of General Practice and am very much looking forward to a positive and fruitful collaboration. 

“In particular,” she added, “once travel and interaction restrictions allow, I will be delighted to visit the University in person to meet the faculty and address the students. In the meantime, we are arranging for me to engage in some recorded discussions.” 

Dr Sarah Jarvis’ career

Dr Sarah Jarvis has over 34 years’ experience in the NHS and over 30 years as a GP, not to mention 26 years also as a mother. She combines working as a GP with a role as Clinical Director of the patient information website Patient.info, which provides free health information written by NHS doctors for patients all over the world. 

She believes passionately in helping people take control of their own health by ensuring that everyone has access to reliable health information so they can educate themselves and make informed decisions. 

“Patients today are under huge time pressure,” Dr Jarvis explained. 

“More and more patients are living with long-term health conditions, where diet, lifestyle and self-management play a major role in long term outcomes and it can be hard to take in all the information the doctor gives you when you're sitting in a consulting room feeling ill or worrying about your health. 

“I have never been more convinced of the need for high-quality medical information, in a user-friendly format, to allow patients to make the informed decisions they need to be in control of their own health,” she added.

She regularly writes for the magazines Good Housekeeping and My Weekly and is the author of seven books, including The Welcome Visitor, co-authored with broadcaster John Humphrys about the ethics of dying. 

In 2009, she won the BMA Book Award for Women's Health for Life and has written three books in the popular For Dummies series, the latest being the third edition of Diabetes for Dummies. 

She also works with several medical charities, including the alcohol charity Drinkaware and several cancer charities as well as chairing the Health Care Committee of the cholesterol charity, HEART UK. 

• Dr Sarah Jarvis' debunked a number of COVID myths during a talk delivered as part of the University’s International Wounds Week entitled COVID-19: State of the Nation and can be viewed in full via the link.