Dr Amrita Kaur Jabbal

• I am currently working as a Senior Paediatrics Registrar at Northwick Park Hospital in an ST8 General Paediatrics training post at LTFT 80% within a busy Level 2 District General Hospital. The service includes a high-volume general paediatrics ward, a dedicated children’s Emergency Department, a children’s observation unit, and a Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU). My responsibilities span across these areas, requiring flexibility, strong clinical judgement, and effective prioritisation in a fast-paced environment.
• On the inpatient ward, I lead daily ward rounds, prioritising the sickest patients first, followed by discharges and then remaining reviews. I coordinate patient allocation among registrars and supervise and support junior doctors, including SHOs, as well as the wider multidisciplinary team including nursing staff. I aim to maintain a safe and efficient ward environment, leading by example and ensuring high standards of care. I am approachable and supportive, which is reflected in consistently positive feedback from multisource feedback (MSF), including my most recent assessment. I have also regularly led on resuscitation scenarios within my day-to-day clinical practice, demonstrating and developing advanced emergency management and leadership skills in acute paediatric situations.
• In the Emergency Department, I take on a leadership role to ensure effective triage, timely assessment, and appropriate management of children, with a focus on maintaining patient flow and minimising delays in care. During certain shifts, I also provide concurrent cover for the PAU, particularly out of hours, which adds to the complexity of decision-making and has strengthened my confidence in clinical leadership. In addition, I am increasingly involved in outpatient clinics, where I am gaining valuable experience in the diagnostic assessment, investigation, and ongoing management of babies and children with a wide range of presentations. This has enhanced my clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis skills, and understanding of long-term patient management pathways.
• I also regularly deliver teaching to medical students across a range of paediatric topics and have received excellent feedback for this. I support junior colleagues with complex cases and practical procedures, offering supervision and guidance as needed. I am certified in EPALS and continue to apply advanced paediatric life support principles in both emergency and ward-based settings.
• Following this placement, I will return to The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where I cross-cover both Paediatrics and Neonatology. This role involves managing neonatal and paediatric patients across inpatient and acute care settings, requiring strong clinical judgement, adaptability, and effective multidisciplinary collaboration.

Key competencies and achievements:

• Lead ward rounds, prioritisation, and multidisciplinary coordination within a busy Level 2 District General Hospital setting.
• Demonstrate leadership in paediatric resuscitation, emergency management, triage, and patient flow within acute paediatric services.
• Supervise and support junior doctors and medical students through clinical teaching, procedural guidance, and ward-based education.
• Develop outpatient diagnostic, investigative, and long-term management skills across a broad range of paediatric presentations.
• Apply advanced paediatric life support principles confidently across ward, emergency, and assessment unit environments through EPALS certification.

• As an ST8 Paediatrics and Neonatal Registrar working LTFT within The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, I returned from maternity leave and continued to consolidate both neonatal and general paediatrics competencies. I focused on re-establishing clinical confidence across acute paediatric and neonatal services, maintaining safe senior decision-making, and progressing against both the paediatric curriculum and Neonatal SPIN competencies. I also completed EPALS in February 2026, reinforcing my advanced paediatric life support and resuscitation skills.
• During this period, I managed complex neonatal and paediatric presentations, including a hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) case linked to the COMET trial, which gave me valuable experience in research communication and supporting families through complex discussions surrounding neonatal care and research participation. I was also involved in the diagnosis and initial management of an antenatally undiagnosed tracheoesophageal fistula (TOF) case, which required prompt recognition, escalation, and coordination with tertiary surgical services. In addition, I led a neonatal unit ward round, demonstrating clinical leadership, prioritisation, and MDT coordination within a busy inpatient setting.
• A key focus of this post was governance, patient safety, and quality improvement. I actively engaged with DATIX reporting processes and developed a deeper understanding of PSIRF principles. I participated in a DATIX investigation and contributed to an Initial Patient Safety Incident Review (IIR form), gaining insight into structured incident analysis, systems-based learning, and safety improvement processes. This strengthened my understanding of governance frameworks and my role in promoting safe clinical practice within both neonatal and paediatric services.

Key competencies and achievements:

• Demosntrating progression in neonatal SPIN and paediatric curriculum competencies following return to clinical practice and senior-level decision-making.
• Managed complex neonatal cases including HIE and antenatally undiagnosed TOF, while leading ward rounds and coordinating multidisciplinary care.
• I developed governance experience through DATIX investigations, PSIRF learning, and contribution to an Initial Patient Safety Incident Review.

• As an ST8 Paediatrics and Neonatal Registrar working LTFT at 80% within The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, I completed a three-month clinical placement prior to commencing maternity leave. During this period, I worked in a combined paediatric and neonatal registrar capacity, managing acute admissions, neonatal cover, and inpatient ward care. I continued to consolidate general paediatrics experience alongside ongoing progression of neonatal SPIN competencies, maintaining safe senior-level clinical decision-making and multidisciplinary team working in a busy DGH environment.
• A key clinical event during this post was the management of a 26-week preterm delivery, where I led the neonatal resuscitation including airway management and coordinated the immediate team response. I provided direct supervision and support to a junior SHO during umbilical venous and arterial line insertion. This case demonstrated effective leadership in emergency situations, team coordination, communication under pressure, and supervision of junior staff, with a successful neonatal stabilisation and uneventful transfer to a tertiary unit.
• Throughout this placement, I continued to develop both neonatal and general paediatrics competencies, with particular focus on resuscitation, acute neonatal stabilisation, and procedural supervision. I also strengthened my ability to lead teams in high-pressure environments while ensuring safe escalation and structured clinical decision-making. This period further reinforced my progression towards independent senior registrar practice across both neonatal and paediatric settings.

Key competencies and achievements:

• I demonstrated leadership in neonatal resuscitation including management of a 26-week preterm delivery and coordination of multidisciplinary team response.
• I supervised and supported junior staff in neonatal procedures including umbilical venous and arterial line insertion.
• I consolidated neonatal SPIN competencies and general paediatrics skills including acute assessment, stabilisation, and safe escalation in a DGH setting.

• As an ST7 Registrar working LTFT at 80% within adolescent medicine and general paediatrics at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, I worked within the TRACCS (Treatment and Rehabilitation of Adolescents and Children with Complex Conditions) service. This post focused on adolescent medicine, safeguarding, general paediatrics consolidation, and advanced communication skills, alongside strengthening my confidence in leading paediatric emergencies and resuscitations. I developed senior-level clinical decision-making in both acute and outpatient settings, managing complex psychosocial, medical, and safeguarding presentations in children and young people. I also led and coordinated care in high-acuity scenarios, including a 6-week-old infant with hyponatraemic seizures secondary to SIADH in bronchiolitis, demonstrating MDT leadership, escalation, and safe transfer to PICU.
• A major component of my role was leading the adolescent and paediatric simulation teaching programme, which I designed, organised, and delivered. I developed structured simulation scenarios focusing on adolescent communication, rapport-building, clinical assessment, and emergency management, and led a QI project evaluating the effectiveness of simulation training using pre- and post-intervention feedback. This work strengthened my skills in education leadership, service development, audit, and governance, with highly positive feedback from participants and senior colleagues, alongside a GREATIX recognition for teaching. I also regularly supported junior doctors and medical students through simulation facilitation and ward-based teaching, further consolidating my role as an educator within the department.
• In addition, I gained extensive experience in adolescent outpatient clinics and triage services, including assessment of young people with complex fatigue syndromes, neurodevelopmental conditions, and mental health concerns. I developed advanced skills in holistic assessment using structured frameworks such as HEADSS, alongside triaging referrals for inpatient admission, MDT input, and outpatient management pathways. My governance and professional development included participation in safeguarding study days, ethics in paediatrics teaching, public health education, and child death review learning, all contributing to a broader understanding of population health and child protection. Feedback consistently highlighted my strong clinical leadership, communication skills, safeguarding competence, and ability to deliver holistic, patient-centred care for children and young people.

Key competencies and achievements:

• Led management of complex paediatric emergencies and safeguarding cases, demonstrating senior-level clinical decision-making and MDT leadership.
• Worked closely with MDT members of the Adolescent TRACCS team to coordinate care, provide holistic management for both inpatient and outpatient adolescents
• Designed and delivered adolescent simulation teaching programme
• Developed advanced adolescent medicine skills in triage, outpatient assessment, safeguarding, and holistic CYP communication.
• Received excellent feedback and GREATIX recognition for teaching, leadership, teamwork, and contribution to service development

• As an ST7 Neonatal Registrar working 80% LTFT within a tertiary neonatal service, I continued to consolidate my neonatal knowledge, procedural skills, and leadership abilities in preparation for consultancy-level practice. During this post, I focused increasingly on leading neonatal resuscitations, stabilising extremely preterm and critically unwell infants, and independently managing complex neonatal conditions including pulmonary hypertension, severe respiratory failure, gastroschisis, cystic hygroma, and neonatal cardiology cases. I became more confident in advanced neonatal ventilation strategies and ongoing management of sick preterm infants, while continuing to consolidate procedural competencies including chest drain insertion, neonatal intubation, and long line placement. Feedback during this post highlighted my significant progress in clinical leadership, procedural confidence, and safe decision-making within complex neonatal environments.
• I was a significant working member of the long-term BPD ventilation group and played an active role in regional respiratory MDT and BPD meetings across the UCLH neonatal network. My responsibilities included preparing detailed case presentations and respiratory proformas, presenting complex neonatal chronic lung disease cases, documenting updates from local DGHs, and advising on management plans, growth optimisation, nutrition, discharge planning, and repatriation pathways. This experience significantly strengthened my confidence in MDT working, advanced neonatal respiratory management, and regional neonatal service coordination as I approach the end of training.
• Alongside my clinical work, I remained heavily involved in governance, education, and quality improvement. I contributed to the writing of the UCLH Neonatal RDS guideline with a registrar colleague and led a NICU QI project examining procedural training opportunities and equity of access for trainees and junior doctors. This project utilised a cohort-based curriculum approach and was presented at departmental audit day, with feedback recognising my leadership and organisational skills. I attended foetal medicine clinics to further develop antenatal counselling and communication skills, alongside specialist neonatal courses including the N3 Nutrition Network Meeting and NESTT course. I regularly taught junior colleagues and medical students on ward rounds and supported trainees with journal club presentations and procedural learning. In particular, I delivered teaching on neonatal rashes and common neonatal skin conditions, receiving excellent feedback which is evidenced within my portfolio. I continued to evidence progression against my Neonatal SPIN competencies and received excellent feedback for both clinical and non-clinical performance, including communication, handover skills, guideline contribution, leadership, and educational involvement.

Key competencies and achievements:

• Consolidated advanced neonatal procedural skills including chest drains, intubation, long lines, and stabilisation of critically unwell preterm infants.
• Led and presented complex chronic lung disease cases at regional BPD/respiratory MDT meetings across the UCLH neonatal network.
• Contributed to development of the UCLH Neonatal RDS guideline and regional neonatal governance initiatives.
• Led a NICU QI project on equitable procedural training opportunities, presented at departmental audit day.
• Developed advanced antenatal counselling and communication skills through fetal medicine clinics and specialist communication courses.
• Delivered regular teaching to junior doctors and medical students, with evidenced excellent feedback and educational contributions.

• During my ST6 Neonatal Registrar post within the tertiary neonatal service, I commenced my Neonatal SPIN and focused on consolidating advanced clinical competence in tertiary neonatology. I worked at 80% LTFT for a year here. I independently managed complex neonatal patients and delivery room emergencies, including extreme prematurity and deteriorating neonates, while strengthening my leadership in high-acuity resuscitation scenarios. I further developed procedural expertise, evidenced through multiple DOPS in long line insertion, umbilical arterial and venous catheterisation, neonatal intubation (term and preterm), lumbar puncture and chest drain insertion. I also gained experience in cranial ultrasound scanning, actively interpreting findings and teaching junior colleagues, including supervising and training another registrar colleague in cranial ultrasound performance and interpretation.
• A significant achievement was leading a full multidisciplinary audit and QI project assessing consultant supervision in neonatal outpatient clinics. I coordinated the project team, delegated tasks, led the re-audit cycle, and ensured completion of interventions, demonstrating leadership, organisation, and service improvement skills; this work was locally presented and uploaded to my ePortfolio as evidence of impact.
• In parallel, I independently authored the North West London PPHN Network Guideline under consultant supervision, leading research, drafting, and iterative revision following Network feedback. I chaired MDT network meetings with DGH colleagues and the neonatal transport service to ensure the guideline was practical and implementable across different levels of neonatal care, directly contributing to regional standardisation of PPHN management pathways.
• Alongside clinical and governance work, I expanded my expertise in antenatal counselling through attendance at the Chelsea and Westminster communication course, focusing on complex antenatal surgical counselling, and I continue to apply this in real-time counselling for any threatened preterm labour. I completed ARNI, EPALS, and NLS and undertook Level 3 safeguarding training at Imperial. I maintained active engagement in teaching, including simulation-based teaching (spontaneous intestinal perforation), regular procedural teaching (UVC/UAC insertion), and structured CBD supervision.
• Additionally, I was nominated for a PAFTA award in recognition of my educational contribution. Feedback from MSFs and workplace-based assessments consistently highlighted my clinical leadership, procedural competence, safe practice, and strong communication skills within both neonatal and MDT environments.

Key Competencies and Achievements:

• Performed chest drains, intubations, long lines, UVC/UAC insertions, lumbar punctures, LISA, and cranial ultrasound confidently.
• Led a QI project on neonatal outpatient supervision, including audit and re-audit with MDT implementation and improvement.
• Authored the North West London PPHN guideline under consultant supervision, leading MDT network meetings across DGHs and transport teams.
• Demonstrated strong education and professional development including ARNI/NLS/EPALS, PAFTA nomination and extensive teaching of juniors and registrars.

• Hillingdon hospital, ST5 Paediatrics and neonatal registrar. Community posting with out of hours cover in paediatrics and neonates. Full time.
• During my ST5 Paediatrics and Neonatal Registrar post at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, I worked full-time across acute paediatrics, neonates, and community paediatrics, including out-of-hours neonatal and paediatric cover. I developed increased confidence in the assessment and management of acutely unwell children and neonates, including leading resuscitations, stabilising sick infants, and coordinating escalation to tertiary care when required. I further consolidated my procedural skills in neonatal intubation, umbilical venous and arterial line insertion, and lumbar puncture, while actively teaching and directly supervising junior doctors during procedures. I also contributed to safe clinical flow through structured handover and MDT communication in high-pressure environments.
• A major component of my role was within community paediatrics at the Child Development Centre, where I independently assessed and followed up children with autism, ADHD, epilepsy, developmental delay, and complex neurodevelopmental needs. I participated in MDT neurodevelopmental assessments, peer review meetings, and safeguarding conferences, including child protection cases involving non-accidental injury, and completed a CBD reflecting on clinical decision-making in safeguarding. I also undertook EHCP assessments, looked-after children health assessments, and asylum seeker health reviews, developing a structured and holistic approach to long-term paediatric care.
• Alongside clinical work, I was actively engaged in governance, audit, and quality improvement activities. I participated in neonatal QI work and departmental governance structures including mortality and morbidity meetings, clinical governance sessions, perinatal meetings, and MDT radiology discussions, contributing to ongoing service evaluation and learning. I received excellent multisource feedback highlighting my clinical safety, communication skills, teamwork, and reliability, with specific recognition of my ability to manage complex patients and escalate appropriately.
• Feedback consistently described me as enthusiastic, a valued team member, safe to practise, and effective in communication with both families and staff, with strong teaching contributions and good procedural and clinical skills. I also contributed to and supported departmental teaching and MDT education sessions, further strengthening my role as a clinical educator within the team.

Key Competencies and Achievements:

• Led acute neonatal and paediatric care including resuscitations, procedural skills (intubation, lines, LPs), and safe escalation in a busy DGH setting.
• Delivered comprehensive community paediatrics care including autism/ADHD, epilepsy, EHCP, LAC, safeguarding, and MDT neurodevelopmental assessments.
• Actively contributed to governance, audit, M&M, and MDT meetings with strong MSF feedback and recognised teaching and leadership contributions.

• During my subsequent post at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, I continued to develop a strong interest in governance, audit, and quality improvement. I was part of a multidisciplinary team contributing to a Quality Improvement (QI) project aligned with the National Neonatal Audit Programme (NNAP) standards, focusing on optimal cord management and delayed cord clamping (DCC), particularly for babies born at less than 32 weeks gestation. As part of this work, I reviewed the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) Optimal Cord Management toolkit, helped assess current local practice, and contributed to the development of an audit and re-audit strategy aimed at improving both documentation and implementation of DCC across the Trust.
• This project involved close collaboration with paediatric, neonatal, obstetric, and midwifery teams, with regular MDT meetings held every 1–2 weeks to monitor progress and implement changes. My specific roles included designing educational posters promoting optimal cord management, delivering teaching sessions for staff, and acting as an advocate for evidence-based neonatal practice within the department. Alongside these governance and educational responsibilities, I continued to develop clinically by confidently leading neonatal and paediatric resuscitations, while regularly teaching junior doctors and medical students. In particular, I delivered teaching on neonatal rashes and received excellent feedback from colleagues for both the quality and practicality of the session.

Key Competencies and Achievements:

• Member of an MDT working group : NNAP-aligned QI project on delayed cord clamping/optimal cord management, developing an audit–re-audit framework informed by BAPM guidance and creating a poster on optimal cord management.
• Worked within a multidisciplinary MDT (neonatal, obstetric, midwifery) to drive governance, standardise practice, and improve evidence-based care.
• Delivered staff education (posters and teaching), while also leading neonatal/paediatric resuscitations and providing teaching to juniors and medical students with excellent feedback.
• Led audit of delayed cord clamping and optimal cord management against NNAP standards.
• Designed OCM poster and delivered MDT teaching to neonatal, obstetric, and midwifery staff.
• Delivered teaching on neonatal rashes and provided registrar-level clinical leadership in resuscitations.

• As full time ST4 Paediatrics Registrar, I completed a neonatal training post across Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital and St Mary's Hospital neonatal units. St Mary's Hospital provided Level 2–3 neonatal care, managing babies with conditions including hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), neonatal seizures, metabolic disorders, and other complex neonatal presentations. Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital had a stronger focus on extreme prematurity and acted as a tertiary receiving unit for critically unwell neonates from across the region. This role allowed me to significantly consolidate my neonatal pathological knowledge and develop confidence in working independently as a neonatal registrar while leading and supporting the wider clinical team.
• My responsibilities included managing complex neonatal conditions such as NEC, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), HIE, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), meconium aspiration syndrome, and complications related to prematurity. I was already competent in advanced neonatal procedures including umbilical venous and arterial line insertion and both term and preterm neonatal intubations, and further strengthened these skills during the post. Alongside my clinical role, I had the unique opportunity to become deeply involved in neonatal governance. I led the investigation of a serious incident on the neonatal unit, conducted a detailed review, and wrote the final governance report, providing valuable experience in patient safety, incident analysis, and quality improvement. I also regularly taught medical students and junior SHOs, while supporting junior colleagues in both clinical decision-making and practical procedures.
• During my neonatal training, I also participated in a departmental debate with a fellow registrar on the topic of whether inotropes should be used routinely in neonatal hypotension. I presented the argument in support of the routine use of inotropes, drawing upon current evidence and contemporary neonatal practice to formulate balanced, evidence-based arguments. Preparation for this debate involved conducting an in-depth review of the available literature, critically appraising current evidence, and extracting relevant data to support and present my position in a clear and clinically meaningful manner. The session promoted open and constructive discussion surrounding the benefits and limitations of inotrope use in neonatal care, while encouraging critical and lateral thinking within the team. This experience further strengthened my understanding of the pharmacological agents used in neonatal intensive care, their physiological effects and clinical indications, while also allowing me to contribute to departmental teaching and shared learning amongst colleagues.
• A particularly memorable and challenging case during this neonatal posting involved the delivery of an extremely premature 23-week infant born in the adult Intensive Care Unit during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. I played a leading role in the immediate stabilisation of the infant, initiating airway management and successfully performing neonatal intubation in a highly pressured and unfamiliar environment. This case required calm leadership, rapid decision-making, effective communication, and close multidisciplinary collaboration under exceptionally challenging circumstances. The successful management of the resuscitation and early neonatal care resulted in excellent feedback and praise from the wider neonatal and intensive care teams, and further strengthened my confidence in leading high-acuity neonatal emergencies.

Key Competencies and Achievements:

• Consolidated independent neonatal registrar skills, including leadership of clinical decision-making, multidisciplinary team coordination, and advanced procedures such as umbilical arterial/venous line insertion and term/preterm neonatal intubation.
• Led the investigation of a serious neonatal incident, completing a detailed review and governance report, gaining valuable experience in patient safety, incident analysis, and quality improvement processes.
• Delivered departmental teaching through a registrar debate on “Should inotropes be used routinely in neonatal hypotension?”, critically appraising evidence and contributing to shared learning within the neonatal team.
• Demonstrated leadership in a high-acuity neonatal emergency involving a 23-week infant born in the Adult Intensive Care Unit during the COVID-19 pandemic, managing airway stabilisation and neonatal intubation while coordinating care in a challenging environment.