John has been a consultant in anaesthesia and critical care in York for just under a year. Prior to that he spent 21 years as a consultant in Leeds with a special interest in cardiac anaesthesia. He trained in anaesthesia, general internal medicine and intensive care up and down the East of the UK from his undergraduate training in Edinburgh, to York, Darlington, Essex, Newcastle, Durham, Cambridge, Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield. He has a particular interest in the care of the patient with severe heart disease having noncardiac surgery. He is particularly exercised about the management of patients with heart failure who require surgery or intensive care and is willing to share his views.