Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Dr Amir Khan (Part One)

Episode Date: October 20, 2026

This week Emily and Ray take a stroll with NHS GP, bestselling author and resident doctor on Lorraine, Dr Amir Khan. Impeccably dressed and immediately besotted with Raymond, Amir proves to be excellent company, although his affection for Ray might have something to do with his own beloved cat, who is apparently every bit as much of a diva.Amir grew up in Bradford alongside his six sisters and his formidable mother, Mama Khan. He shares stories of family life, including the extraordinary name of one of their cats: Princess Jessica Monica Princess Diana Khan. Emily is understandably impressed.They also explore Amir's journey into medicine, why he chose to become a GP and how his work on Lorraine, his hugely popular social media accounts and his writing career have made him one of Britain's most familiar doctors. Throughout their conversation, his passion for helping people is unmistakable.His new book, The Doctor Will Feed You Now, is inspired by the food he grew up eating in Mama Khan's kitchen and is available to pre-order ahead of its publication next February. You can also hear Amir alongside Cherry Healey on their podcast No Appointment Necessary, where they answer all those questions you've always wanted to ask about your health.By the end of the walk, Emily has decided she'd quite like to move to Bradford and join Amir's surgery. Better still, she's secured an invitation for herself and Ray to sample his famous lasagna. There's just one condition: Mama Khan has to be there.Follow Emily:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrebeccadeanX: https://twitter.com/divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich JarmanArtwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Look at their faces when they see Raymond. I think they're excited about Dr Amir. No, they're not. They're definitely not. These people do not watch Lorraine. Trust me. They are far too young. It's definitely the dog.

This week on Walking the Dog, Ray and I went for a stroll with NHSGP, bestselling author and resident doctor on Lorraine, Dr Amir Khan. So Amir is easily one of the best dressed guests I've ever had on this podcast.

The Man Serves Looks. He always. also fell hopelessly in love with Raymond, but that could be because Amir is obsessed with his white cat, who he describes as a diva, and let's face it, they don't come more diva than Raymond. And we had the loveliest chat about Amir's childhood growing up in Bradford with his six sisters and his formidable mother, Mama Kahn, who, by the way, had the best-named cat in the entire world, wait for it. Princess Jessica Monica, Princess Diana Kahn, the woman is an icon. Amir also chatted to me about why he became a GP and how he ended up becoming one of the

nation's most loved doctors. I said that, not him, but it's true. Through his work on Lorraine, his Insta following of over a million and his successful career as an author. In fact, he's got a new book out in February next year, which you can pre-order. It's called The Doctor Will Feed You Now, and it's inspired by all the recipes he grew up eating in Mama Khan's kitchen. so you can expect lots of bonus content from her. I genuinely can't wait. And you can also listen to the brilliant podcast he does with Cherry Healy, no appointment necessary,

where they explore everything you've ever wondered about your health. Ray and I loved our walk with Amir. Not only is he a walking encyclopedia of the human body, he's also such an incredibly warm person to chat to, and you really get the sense that what he loves about being a doctor is getting to help people. He's also absolutely hilarious. In fact, I'm moving to Bradford immediately

just so I can join his surgery. Best of all, he's already invited me and Raymond over to taste some of his famous lasagna. I only have one stipulation. No Mama Khan, no us. Make it happen, Amir. Really hope you enjoy our walk. Here's Amir and Raymond.

Come on then, Amir. Oh my God, I'm obsessed with Raymond. Can I just say? I've just spent five minutes with him. Can I? I think I'm going to have to hold them the entire way. I mean, I've got to say, Dr. Amir, you've been very pushy. You've gone straight in for the hug.

I am not interested in anything else. And you know, I have not grown up with dogs. I wouldn't say, I like dogs, but I'm not a dog person. I've always had cats. We've got a cat. But this little fella is changing my mind. I think cats should be very jealous right now. Really?

I mean, you look so good with him because you're both super stylish. Oh, wow. Thank you. I mean, compared to him, I have nothing. People are looking at you, because you get recognised quite a lot anyway. And I've noticed already a couple of people have looked, and I can tell they've thought, oh, it's Dr Amir. Why is he holding a weird fucking?

I think they're looking at Raymond, I'll be honest. I can't help but call you Dr. Amir, but do you prefer to just be called Amir? Just Amir. Even my patients call me Amir. Day. Yeah, yeah. Nobody really calls me Dr Amir.

What about your mum? No, God. She'll call me every other name under the sun, I think. And because there's seven of us in our family, she can never get the right name. So she goes through each child before she gets to my name. And then she goes, oh, it's, yeah, it's you. Yes, because you've got, is it six sisters? Six sisters, yeah, yeah. Only boy.

Only boy. You know, people think. I bet you weren't spoils at all. Well, you know, everybody says that. But my mum, because she kind of single-handedly brought us all up. Right. My dad died when we were very young. And so she's like the ultimate feminist.

So she made sure both ways that whatever things I was doing outside, you know, like DIY gardening, the girls were doing it. And inside vacuuming, washing up. I was cooking. I was doing that as well. So I don't think I was spoiled. But my sisters say I was. But I don't think I was. I'm going to have a chat with your sisters.

Yeah, they might give you a more accurate answer. So you've fallen hopelessly in love with Raymond at first sight. Do you currently have any animals yourself? I've got a cat. Yeah, she's a little ragdoll cat. She's so cute. We inherited her actually from one of my friends who was moving to Dubai. She was only six months old when we got her.

And now she's three and a half. And yeah, she's named after a Bollywood actress. What have you called her? She's called Chalbony, which means, which means moonlight in Hindi. But there was a beautiful name. It's a nice new. And she's white as well.

So it kind of suits her. And yeah, so there's this iconic, iconic 80s and 90s actress called Sri Baby, she's called. Everyone who knows Bollywood will know her. She's like the, oh, she's just iconic. And she played, she was in a movie in the late 80s called Chandani. She played the title of character. Oh, I see.

And it was a huge movie. And even now, whenever there's weddings and stuff, big Asian weddings, the songs from that movie, everybody gets up and dances too. Yeah, yeah. So she's named after her and that movie altogether because I'm obsessed with Bollywood. Oh, wow. Oh, I love the sound of your cat. And so growing up in Bradford, wasn't it? Yes.

And your dad was still around, obviously, at that point. And your mum and your sisters. And did you have animals at all? We've always had a cat always, you know, along the way. I think my mum is, is, she loves cats. She absolutely loves them. Her current cat, I say a current cat, we've had, this one is now 16 years old. Can I just tell you a full name?

Because my mum names all the cats. So she's called Princess Jessica, Monica, Princess Diana. There's two princesses. Carn. Imagine going to the vets. having to fill out that form. Why is she called Princess Jessica, Princess Diana? Well, because all of our cats have had Princess as their first name.

And then since the passing of Diana, who or an entire family are obsessed with, every cat has had to have been named Princess Diana as their middle name. So, and my mom is like, she's team Diana all the way. Oh, bless her. That is honestly the best, I've had a fair few people. put on this podcast but Mama Khan has come up with the best name for an animal. I was like mum why you're calling Princess Jessica Monica Princess Diana? I said where does the moniker come from? I've always wanted to call one of your sister's Monica when your dad didn't

like maybe Lewinsky yeah I mean do you know what your mom as a feminist she's like me she's championing women who've been hard done by in the press Monica Lewinsky's been really hard done by she's been vindicated now yes because she really got a hard time back in the day When you think the shame that land, why was it her shame? Yeah, exactly. She did nothing wrong. She wasn't married. Yeah, she was a young woman and she, yeah, he was in a position of power.

I am with you. I think Mama Khan knew that deep down. Oh, my God, I love Mama Khan. I mean, it's the weirdest named animal I've ever come across, but I love it. It's her favourite child out of the seven of us. Like she gets fed first. She'll get priority seating in our house. nobody can eat unless Princess Jessica is like fully comfortable.

Can you give her a full name? Princess Jessica, Monica, Princess Diana Carnes? Yeah, sorry, sorry. Do you like I already know it? It's actually quite easy to remember. See, I told you, yeah, it is. It's still making me laugh. I don't think I can do the interview. I don't know what to do.

I think I'd love your mum. I think you would. She's a false... Tell me about your childhood a bit, Amir, because this was in Bradford and would you describe it a sort of I've read that you've talked about how it was sort of you know three beds with multiple people yeah yeah so I shared a room growing up with my mom and dad we were like they had their bed and then me and my younger sister had like little fold-out beds at the end of their bed and it was completely normal like you know everybody in the street was pretty much in the same position my dad was a bus driver my mom kind of worked a way up and eventually became a social worker after my dad passed away and and it was a really chaotic household you know with my parents working full-time is my elder siblings because I'm sixth in line and I've got one younger sister he's gone a bit Princess Diana with his six in line yes and so

like we were all kind of just looking after each other so my sisters would look after us while my parents worked and it was all it was all quite chaotic But looking back on it, it was really nice. And we had such good relationships with all our neighbours that my mum would just dump us in one of our neighbours' houses and they'd look after us and vice versa. So yeah, it was great. So a noisy household?

Very noisy. Yeah. Yeah, very noisy. Big personalities. Lots of big personalities. As with everything, you know, they were falling out. There was laughter. There was slamming doors.

There were girls taking forever in the bathroom. I remember that because there was only one bathroom between all of us. Do you think, what do you think? I think that's really interesting growing up like that though, because it's become more normalised for onsuits and this, we've got a bit obsessed with this kind of thing of like everyone has to have their own bathroom and it's, you know. And I kind of wonder if that does sort of teach you, I suppose, compromise or waiting your turn a bit or just a sort of slightly less entitlement in some ways. Oh, totally agree. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, my nephews and nieces now, they have a very different growing up. They've got onsuitable. and multiple bathrooms and if they have to wait for anything, we all hear about it.

Yeah. And it's moved on, you know, again, I see that a little bit in general practice as well, I suppose, you know, because people are so used to that instantaneous obtaining of things, whether it's buying something online or getting something delivered immediately. But, and with general practice, they want an appointment straight away, and that's not always possible. So I think, and when, I know it's hard to get an appointment, but something's just just don't need seem on the same day. Yeah. We can wait a week.

Carly Raymond, yes, you know. Well, that's, yeah, that's interesting that, isn't it? Because also it's that thing where I still remember, you know, like if you wanted a cab or something, you'd have to ring and wait 20 minutes or something. Whereas now, or you want food or, you know. But 20 minutes feels like a lifetime now.

Imagine waiting for the tube for 20 minutes. It's like what's going on? So, I love the sound of the car and And what's the kid were you, Amir? Were you, you know, obviously I always think of people who go on to be doctors as immensely academic and studious and locked away studying. Was that true of you? I was definitely curious. Yeah.

And I was definitely that kid who would, I love going out with my mates on my bike. But I would, I'm obsessed with animals. And so I, yeah, oh my God, yeah. I can see. So I'd bring back. He's falling asleep like a bit. baby in your arms. So gorgeous. It's because you've got the bedside manner. Well, that must be it. Do you think it is? I think you may be he responds to you.

Does he not do this with everyone? Not really like this. I mean he honestly, I've never seen him so comfortable or relaxed. Well, I'm very comfortable as well. Do you like Amir's your new friend? He's so kind. I do say, you know, when I do my, I do once a week, I do six to eight week baby checks. So when new moms bring in their babies, we do the top to tell and then we do the postnatal review with them. I always, I do, I always say to every mum, we get to keep the cutest baby of the week and it's yours. So I'm going to keep him because he's the cutest baby of the week. And some of the mums are like, yeah, take him.

And then others are like, no, don't. So were you a naughty kid? Were you ever naughty? No, I don't think I was naughty, if I'm being honest. You quite well behaved? I think so, because my older siblings, some of them were really naughty. And I could see the stress that my mum went with three. with them. So I don't think so. I was always out a lot and I got in trouble for not coming home on time.

I'd always bring back like frogs or anything that I found. I'd love doing all of that kind of stuff. My mum got a bit fed up with that, but she was cool with it in the end. Were they strict your parents? They weren't strict with us in terms of going out, but they were strict. I think once my dad passed away, then I think my mum realised that, you know, she's going to have to become a bit stricter. academic pressure was put on us a little bit I suppose you know to do our homework to make sure we were doing well in school she there was not I wouldn't say pressure but there was an expectation yeah and and then I think once my mum decided she wanted us my sister and myself to become doctors it was like

tunnel vision for her really yeah and at the time I was considering being a vet and I really like the idea of being a vet but then I did my work experience in a veterinary surgery. And how was it? It was horrendous. I mean, I wasn't expecting that. I mean, I wasn't expecting that. Because it was, because I don't know what it is.

I can cope with humans being sick and ill, but I can't really cope with animals with it, because it's so sad. But I did get to catheterise a hamster. Yes, I did. Again, the first for this podcast. And after catheterizing a hamster, trust me, catheterizing a human is like nothing. It's like I could throw it across the room and get it into a human now. I know what you mean. There is something very sad about the fact that they can't tell you, you can't even say, you know, does this hurt or tell me on a scale of one to ten, how bad the pain is.

Yes, there was that. But I tell you what was, I found... Let's take a picture here, Dr. Amir. I tell you what I found really difficult was a lot of the people couldn't afford the care that the animals needed. So rather than get them, you know, like these scans, and the x-rays that they needed to make a more accurate diagnosis. Yeah. A lot of them, not a lot of them, but some of them had them just put down because they couldn't afford the care. I know, it was really sad.

Well, do you know, it's interesting because that's sort of super vet who I've had on this podcast a couple of times. And he is really working, you know, what he's done is incredible in terms of, it used to be that an animal would put down if it couldn't walk or its legs, you know, and he's saying, well, look, it's orthopedic surgery. It's what you do to a human. human, you know, but you're right. I do think it's, you know, that's something that really should change is vet care. There aren't enough checks and balances on that. The prices are, that's changing now, I think, which is good. They kind of cap the prices on some of the medicine. Yeah. But I think unless you've got insurance, it's really tricky. Well, when I went to get Raymond, he got done, but that's because, are you familiar with this concept? He had a

descending testicle. Yeah. Do humans get that? They have an undescended testicle where it's stuck up. Maybe that's what it was. Yeah. He had one that was undescended. Sorry, it's been a while. I haven't been with a man for a while, so I've forgotten the anatomy. No, he had his testicle was somewhere it shouldn't be.

And that's when they said we should get rid of it. But this woman came out. It was a very posh place. She had a white, like Donald Trump's doctor, with the sort of italics written on the thing. And then they say, thank you so much for that. I said, that'll be a grand, please. Yeah, yeah.

Pounds and pounds to get rid of one tiny, tiny ball. Honestly. And I think that makes me appreciate the NHS more. You know this idea that you get care free at the point of these? It really does. Yeah. Anyway, but I wasn't built for the animal.

I was built for humans. I wish you were. I'd so take Raymond. Oh, look at this. You two. Hang on, I want to get, oh, this is good lighting actually. Raymond, look at Mummy. I feel bad, Amir, because you're holding Raymond the whole time.

It's quite right. It's a bit my pleasure, yeah. You seem quite to like it. Oh, very much so. So, so. Your dad, you were telling me you lost your dad. Yeah. How old were you?

Nine. Oh, my dear, that's too young, isn't it? It was young, it felt young, but now he's kind of, I mean, it's been such a long time that, I know, no, it feels okay. You know what I mean? I, I don't really have, I, I, I think I had a strange relationship with my dad. I wasn't the closest to him. Yeah.

He was, he was a, a difficult character, I think. and his relationship with my mum wasn't great, so that put extra pressure on all of us, you know, having to witness that. Yeah, so it's a really tricky thing and I, it's not that I don't like talking about it, I just don't talk about it very often, but I think the tricky thing is, when you don't have a good relationship with a parent and they pass, then the grieving process is a really complicated thing to navigate,

because you think you should feel a certain way, but you don't and then you feel bad about that. And so, yeah, it's complicated, I suppose. But what I am grateful for when my dad is, you know, he came to this country. He's given us, as a result of that, we've had opportunities that we may not have had otherwise. And that must have been really difficult for him to move across, you know, on his own first and then he brought my mum over. Right. And that, you know, I don't know a great deal about that, but I imagine it was really, really hard. I think that's really interesting what you say about

it can be more complicated. I was sort of estranged from my dad for a bit. And, you know, I think when he died, I did have, luckily I had that moment with him, you know, that very important sometimes it can be that final moment and that was important. But I felt after he died, I had no right to grieve in the way that when I'd say my sister, my mum had died, people said, oh, that's terrible.

Because my dad wasn't as big a feature in my life. It was almost like, well, I do actually feel really complicated about this, but I don't feel I can talk about it too much because it's like, oh, come on, do you know what I mean? And yeah, if you're not feeling, I know there's no, I'll say this to my patients all the time, there's no right or wrong way to grieve. Yeah. But it does feel wrong when you're not visibly kind of emotional about it. Do you know what I mean?

And so, so I thought the best thing to do is just not talk about it at all. Yeah. I think that's what I've done. Yeah, I respect that. And do you think just aside from him as a person, in terms of the impact of the loss of your dad, what that does do is leave a sort of, I suppose, a male-shaped old in the family in some ways

from what you've been used to, certainly. Did you feel yourself sort of thinking, right, I'm stepping in a bit here? Yeah, I think there was definitely that, certainly as I got older. And even now, you know, in the Asian, culture you know there's there can be quite gender stereotypes in place and there are times where my mum will go no i need a man to come with me here or do this and that and that is who i become

um and and yeah so i do i do think that is the case i think more than anything my mum stepped up and that that is fair fair to say because we were all i mean i was certainly very young yeah but over time i do think that's that has been the case that i've had to take take on that role. And so you were saying that your mum was kind of you had the sense that she was thinking, okay, my son the doctor and my daughter the doctor. Were you aware of that? Were you thinking, I mean, I know you said you flirted briefly with ideas like being a vet, but was there a part of you thinking, well, this is me, this is my destiny, this is my vocation? No. I mean, Doctors were, my mum held our local GP in really high regard and I knew that, that was very clear.

And then, and then I didn't think I had it in me academically to become a doctor. You know, deep down, I just thought, well, I don't think I can get the grades to get in. And so it wasn't really a realistic expectation of my own. I thought I might do something allied to medicine perhaps, but not medicine itself. Go there, I'm then. Yeah, but then I did get the grades and I think I surprised everyone. Really? I definitely surprised my teachers because they were not so sure I was going to do it.

But yeah, no, I was just scraped through and managed to get in. You must have been so happy when you got those results. I was, I was really relieved. And I finally, because I guess I didn't really have much of a plan beyond trying to get through A levels and thinking about, you know, I'll do something that's almost like medicine, but not quite. So then to have that decision taken away and just, that or the process taken away and go, right, okay, well now you can do this. Yeah. It was a relief.

And you went to study medicine at, was it Liverpool? Liverpool, the best. Was it? Did you have a great time? Oh my God, the best years of my life. Well, I'm having good years now. They were such good years because immediately, I mean, I left home for the first time. I wasn't living under the kind of the rule of my mum and it was and immediately I just found

friendships that worked and continued to work for me they and there is that sense of university I felt that where just psychologically it's like oh I can break bad now in the sense of just it's a really amazing thing just thinking oh I'm sort of an individual that's what I felt I kind of felt this This is my life now, begins here kind of thing. Very much so. Yeah. And yeah, and then I threw myself into university life every aspect.

Yeah. And I think that really, it was such a great experience. And I only look back with good, good memories. And I did all my junior doctor training there and my GP training in Liverpool as well before moving back. And it was just incredible. And I go back as often as I can, really. I love that city. Was it very, I mean,

we all hear how I was always impressed by people doing medicine when I was at university. I mean, I'm sitting there reading bloody Jane Austen books thinking, how are they doing this? No, it's not. I'm sorry. I always just thought the level of, I mean, you had to work for a start. And secondly, but just, it feels like one of those things that you have to be absolutely passionate and committed. Just because of the length of the commitment, more than anything. Yeah, I think that's true. There's a lot of work involved. There's a lot of information you have to commit to memory and be able to use quite quickly. And it's that application of knowledge I think which makes me different to other courses and application to real life people. Alongside the communication skills, I always say that is

that is as important as the clinical knowledge. You've got to be able to communicate with patients in a way that works for them. And they, you know, they spent a lot of time teaching that at university as well, but it's not until you really start talking to actual patients and find ways that work for you. There's always a moment, isn't it, when things click. Well, there is for you, because I would say from the minute you walk in, I mean, I experienced that today.

You're very charismatic and friendly, and you've got natural warmth and charm. Oh, thanks. No. Do you like that? I do. I think not all, it could be that you would have someone who was brilliant academically at the study of medicine, but doesn't naturally have your qualities. So I find that interesting that, you know, traditionally doctors weren't actually taught that, weren't they? They weren't taught the sort of psychological skills of being a GP. So you had it naturally.

Were you aware of people perhaps you were studying with or other people you knew where those, those, I suppose their social skills really. Yeah, they are. Didn't come as naturally to them. Yes. And they go on to do other things than general practice. They usually become surgeons. But also, like, I've been training GPs for the best part of 15 years now.

So, and part of what I have to do with them is teach them these communication skills. And as you say, you know, the benchmark really, really varies from person to person. And it is really hard to teach the warmth and the kind of the openness that is needed for general practice. To someone who doesn't have it naturally, you can't. And what you end up doing is then teaching them the mechanics of it. And you watch them consult with patients. And you can see it doesn't come naturally to them. And it's almost like acting then for them because they have to pass an exam,

which is all about their communication skills and their openness and being patient-centered. and they really struggle with it. They really struggle and lots of them fail multiple times until we get it right. And that's so interesting because traditionally, which is terrible that I make these biases, but when I've had to go into hospital and stuff like that, it's always the nurses who open up the chat, I find.

You know? It's like you'll have a laugh with them and then I'll think to the consultant, who's normally a surgeon, I think, come on, we're going to warm you up a bit. Let's get a laugh out of you, surgeon. Yeah, no, I think that's really important. That's so key. I think more and more in all aspects of medicine, the communication skills is being tested and examined at, you know, at all levels.

Yeah. And so I don't think people can get away with being brisk or very doctor-centred anymore. I think that is all changing. And even as part of, because I'm on the admissions board for Leeds Medical School, even as part of that early stage at the admissions school. Do people get interviewed by you? Yeah. Shut up. Can you imagine if you walked in and saw doctor. down there. I always, they never mention it. They always, you can see that flicker on their face then you go, right, let's get down to business. I mean, you're on more boards than, it's crazy the amount of jobs you have. Because we should say, you are the president of the bloody RSPB. Oh, that's my favourite job. That's my favourite job. My favourite job. President of the RSPB. It's a voluntary role. It's not really a job. You're also, you were, you were, you were, you were, Are you the vice president of the Wildlife Trust?

Yeah, yeah, that's right, yeah. I mean, this is crazy. And you're a GP. Yeah. And you've written about a million books, which we're going to talk about, because there's another one on its way. Yeah.

Be honest. Are you a workaholic? I, you know. As David Beckham once said to Victoria, be honest. I think I might be now. I definitely wasn't. These things creep up on you, don't they?

You kind of, kind of gather these roles, and then all of a sudden, you are. you are working seven days a week. Where does that come from the drive to work? Do you have scarcity mindset? I think I do, you know, growing up working class. But also when like, you know, when I was doing just the medicine's things, it was, I don't think I was that, I think it's when I moved into an industry like this where I am doing

the media work where I'll be completely honest with you, you know, there is always someone, there's a hundred media doctors out there who would. like to have the role of my TV that I have or you know all of that stuff and it's great you know there's room for everyone but it does put you at kind of a higher alert all the time and you're like right you've got to bring your A game to everything because because you know as as they've were doctor media doctors before me there'll be media doctors after me and I just want to make sure I'm the best of the best for as long as I can you are the best well I don't know I have to do my I shouldn't say actually I should say I do my best rather than be the best I

the thing about you is that there's an authenticity to you which is why I think you're so highly in demand on things like TV because it's about there is a real knack to it isn't it in terms of you've got to make all this information accessible and not frightening yeah but you can't come across as if you're you're sort of a TV doctor in inverted comments yeah just a doctor who happens to be on TV I think the key thing is making for me like the practice I work at in Bradford is the same practice I've worked at for 18 years and it is the practice that my mum used to go to when we were younger before we moved to a different part

of Bradford and every patient knows my mum like everyone and so when they can't get an appointment Emily they ring my mum or they WhatsApp her and then the shield message me and go so and so I've been trying to ring for ages you can't get her can you see her she must be so proud of you. Do you think she is? I think she is, yeah. We're not the kind of family that would ever say that. Really? But I think she is, yeah. I bet she boasts her friends. I hope so. Work hard enough. I hope so. So when you finished your medical training, what, at what point, let's sit down for a bit? Yeah, yeah. What, at what point do you say, right, I'm going to become a GP? Because you have a choice at that.

point don't you yeah so my mum had a plan and I had a plan so she wanted me to become a cardiothoracic surgeon like one of my cousins and so she was determined I heard about this cousin yeah Arif and so so I just I loved hospital I love the teamwork there and I love the fact that there was lots of people looking after just you know one patient you weren't doing it all on your own yeah and I love the the social side of it the social side of the hospital is is amazing And you do that hospital training, is that in your last two years or something? So after you do five years at university, you do two years of foundation training in a hospital.

Right. And you rotate through different specialities. Got it. And then at the end of that two years, you apply for whatever speciality you want to go for. So if you want to do surgery or medicine or general practice or psychiatry, you know, you apply at that point. And I wasn't convinced by anything I'd done in hospital that I had a real passion for it. But what I did know is that I love talking and I love being really nosy and asking questions, like not like going, well, why are you asking me that?

And general practice is really well placed for that because you can ask nosy questions. It's like you're having a million coffee mornings in one day. How are you? How are you feeling? And so I thought general practice would be good for that. And also you get a flate, you get a bit to do a bit of everything. So GP training itself is three years. you do two of those years in hospital, then one year in general practice.

And I did mine on the Wirral in Merseyside. And we rotated, I did A&E for six months, then care of the elderly for six months, and then paediatrics for six months, and then general practice. And I loved each one of those specialities. And each time I thought, oh my God, I wish I'd done obs and guine because I love it, or paediatrics because I love it. But general practice allows you, anyway, my mum, going back to Arav, when I told her that I was going to apply to do general.

What did she say? She was gutty, like gutty. She was like who, like typical Asian mom, she was like, you won't get as many marriage offers. Because you're going to be a GP and not a surgeon. I was like, mum, I don't think that's going to be a problem. So, yeah, so that was her initial response. She went, do you know how many marriage offers Arif's had recently? I was like, no, I don't know. So anyway, but my sister is an A&E consultant. So that takes care of my mom's price. So she's quite happy with that. She's done you a solid. So my mum kind of rates us in order of our job, like in her preference. So is A&E at the top?

Your sister? A is at the top. One of my other sisters is a dentist, so she comes second. I mean, your family have done, what is it with you guys in the medicine? My mum, she's like, yeah, work harder, apply harder. Is all of her. Was it because she worked for, because presumably her work as a social worker, was she working for the NHS?

So, yeah, well, for the council. Did healthcare just seem like? I don't think she knew. So she came over to the UK. in the late 60s. She couldn't speak English and she had really amazing neighbours who helped her with things like money and buying groceries and that kind of thing and language.

And then she was a cleaner and then she became a nursery nurse and then a teacher's assistant and then she went through the social worker route. And I think in all of that time, because I don't think she had a broad level of exposure to many different jobs. So the job that she had in a mind that was the best job of all was being adopted

because that's just what she knew. It wasn't necessarily what I feel, but it's what she felt. And I think that was aspirational to her. And so she made it our aspirations. So interesting. And I see also that if you've worked that hard, and when you think of the huge achievement, my friend Connie, who we were talking about earlier,

our mutual friend, I know. She was saying to me, because she was so super smart like you. And, you know, I said, God, that's amazing. You got to Cambridge. She went, I know, but I didn't become a doctor. Yeah, but she's Connie. I said, Connie, you've done really well. But I think at the time that TV presenting, she was saying,

again, her parents had worked very hard. And it was almost like that sense of, you know, I get that. She's a trailblazer for me. Is she? Yeah. Oh my God. She was like one of the first brand people I saw on TV. Like that was amazing.

We were like, oh my God, Connie's on. Put it on, turn it up. Shut up, everyone. She is a trailblazer. Even now, because she's gone on to do things beyond television, hasn't she? So even now, she's a trailblazer for us. Oh, no, she's going to be insufferable after she hears this. No, I'm thrilled.

I'm thrilled at you think, no. And I was on the phone to her on the way here, and I was going, because, oh, you're seeing a mirror. I'm so jealous. I said, yeah, I've got to go because I'm meeting him. And then she was trying to stay on the phone. She'd have bought her. I know.

Oh, my God, we'd have such a laugh. Next time. Next time. Yes, next time. So you eventually decide you want to be a GP. and was it always, because you've got that choice, I suppose, that you can go into private medicine, can't you? Or you can work for the NHS.

Yeah. What made you want to work for the NHS? I never, ever, not ever has it crossed my mind to do private practice. Why? Because I am a really firm believer in the principle of the NHS, which is, you know, care free at the point of need, no matter what background you're from. So whether you're rich, poor, black, black, white, whatever.

and working where I work, which is a very deprived part of Bradford, incredibly deprived. We have one of the biggest council estates just adjacent to our practice in the country. You see how poverty, social circumstances, finances, stress, all of those things impact health. And I just think... You should say, these are a bunch of kids going past on their way. What are they doing? They're loving your dog. Look at their faces when they see Raymond.

I think they're excited about Dr. Amir. No, they're not. They're definitely not. These people do not watch Lorraine. Trust me. They are far too young. It's definitely the dog. Yeah, so I, and so, and that's how I grew up, right?

And so I understand the importance of access to health, but also opportunity. And when people are not well, they can't make the most out of any opportunity, what little opportunities come their way. And that's really important to me to make sure. I do my bit, a tiny little bit for them that can make them better. So if they do get any opportunities like I was fortunate enough to have, then they can at least try and go for them. And they can't do that if they're in poor health

or if they're looking after a parent in poor health or something like that. So yeah, no, never. I've had loads of offers. I bet you have. Which is really flattering. What from sort of practices, private practices saying would you come and work with us? Lots of money. How do you turn that down there?

because as you said, you've scarcity mindset, you come from this background where understandably there's a sense of got to keep moving, you know, got to keep working. How do you turn that down? I think I couldn't square that in my head in terms of my morals and principles that I feel like it is the core to not just what I do in work at the surgery, but even on television and in writing, one of the core things that kind of anchor me is my work in the NHS and my passion for the NHS and to make the NHS better than it is because there's so much needed isn't there? And so I've never been tempted by that to be, if I'm being very, very honest, it's really nice to get the offers.

It's really nice to send an email back going, thank you, but no, thank you. And I'm also, I've got to be honest, you know, with all the other work that I do, I am in a privileged position to be able to say no to that as well. So that does help to be fair. Yeah. But still, I really like that. And also, my mum will kill me if I leave Bradford all that practice. I really hope you love part one of this week's Walking the Dog. If you want to hear the second part of our chat, it'll be out on Thursday.

So whatever you do, don't miss it. And remember to subscribe so you can join us on our walks every week.