CONSULTANT physician Richard Heaton has retired after 23 years at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
He came to Huddersfield in 1987 as a consultant with an interest in respiratory medicine and ran the respiratory service. His many achievements include developing a screening service for tuberculosis, setting up a specialist nursing service including home visits for patients on oxygen and he started up a pulmonary rehabilitation service in1993, before the service became available nationally.
He also led the development of lung cancer services in Huddersfield and Calderdale including the appointment of lung cancer specialist nurses and development of the lung cancer multi-disciplinary team.
He has just been chairman of the Yorkshire Regional Lung Cancer Network and inspired many junior doctors who have trained with him to enter the speciality.
Dr Heaton, from Honley, is married with two grown-up sons. He said: “I have enjoyed everything at work, particularly working with all the teams and the patients.”
