Helen is a Consultant Anaesthetist and Peri-operative Physician at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. She trained in anaesthesia in the North East and worked as a Consultant Anaesthetist at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust from 2007-2013. She has been involved in Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) since 2005, both a research tool and a vital part of the pre-operative assessment process facilitating shared decision making and management of the high risk surgical patient.

In 2013, she moved to the warmer (but wetter) climes of Cornwall and is currently the lead for Pre-operative Assessment and CPET in Plymouth where the service has continued to expand and develop a pre-habilitation program for patients undergoing major surgery and continuing research tool. She is the secretary of the Peri-operative Exercise Testing and Training Society (POETTS).