Phil Hammond

Dr Phil Hammond is a unique and multi-talented figure – an NHS doctor, journalist, broadcaster, speaker, campaigner, and comedian. Born into the NHS and raised in Perth, Australia, his journey has been shaped by personal challenges, including the loss of his father at a young age.

Phil qualified as a doctor in 1987 and has dedicated 34 years to the NHS. He spent over two decades working part-time in general practice, alongside roles in sexual health. A passionate educator, Phil taught medical students and doctors at the universities of Birmingham and Bristol, earning recognition as Teacher of the Year from his students in Birmingham. His career has always focused on helping patients and carers navigate life, illness, and the NHS, as well as promoting better patient care. Phil has twice been listed in the Health Service Journal's Top 100 Clinical Leaders.

On screen, Phil presented five series of "Trust Me, I’m a Doctor" on BBC2, encouraging patients to be informed and assertive in their healthcare. He also hosted "Dr Phil’s Saturday Surgery" on BBC Radio Bristol for over a decade, from 2007 to 2018.

As Private Eye's medical correspondent, Phil made headlines with his 1992 exposé of the Bristol heart scandal, later giving evidence to the Public Inquiry. In 2012, he and Andrew Bousfield were shortlisted for the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism for "Shoot the Messenger", an investigation into the mistreatment of NHS whistle-blowers. His widely praised coverage of the pandemic led to his Sunday Times bestseller "Dr Hammond’s Covid Casebook", a collection of his Private Eye columns. He’s now working on his autobiography, "The Art of Living When You Know You’re Going to Die".

Phil’s career as a comedian is equally impressive. He was half of the award-winning double act "Struck Off and Die" and has been a regular performer at the Edinburgh Fringe since 1990. He’s toured the UK, made appearances on "Have I Got News For You", "Question Time", and "Countdown", and written the hit NHS comedy "Polyoaks" for BBC Radio 4. His show "Dr Phil’s Bedside Manner", where he visited NHS hospitals and brought laughter to staff and patients, received rave reviews.

At the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe, Phil’s shows "Dr Hammond’s Covid Inquiry" and "How I Ruined Medicine" earned 4-star reviews. This year, he returned to the Fringe with two acclaimed performances – "Fifty Minutes to Save the NHS" with Dame Clare Gerada and "The Ins and Outs of Pleasure".

Phil’s sharp wit and insightful commentary have earned him accolades from all corners, with The Guardian calling him “one of the most entertainingly subversive people on the planet” and The Times stating, “If Hammond was a medicine, you should swig him by the litre.”

Phil is set to bring his popular "Doctor, Doctor" series back to BBC Radio 4 and will return to the airwaves in 2025 with a brand new series of "Struck Off and Die" with Tony Gardner.