Hazel McHaffie

About the Author

Background

  • Qualified nurse (Plymouth General Hospital, Devon)
  • Qualified midwife (Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion, Edinburgh)
  • PhD in Social Sciences (Edinburgh University)
  • Research Fellow in Medical Ethics for over 20 years (Edinburgh University)

Awards

  • Gold medal from Plymouth General Hospital
  • Scottish Office Research Training Fellowship
  • BMA Medical Book of the Year 2002
  • Runner-up Writer of the Year 2008 (Writers Bureau)
  • Highly commended in BMA 2008 Book Competition; short-listed for Popular Medicine prize.
  • Runner-up in 20th Anniversary Award 2009 (Writers Bureau)

Why the move to fiction?

To share one of the most exciting subjects in the world

Life-changing experiences

  • Serious illness of a son
  • Years of night duty
  • Being bullied at work
  • Interviewing over 100 bereaved parents

Other regular commitments

Church; Care of the elderly; fund-raising for Third World projects

Character traits

Obsessive tendencies; quickly bored by routines; thrives on challenge

Addictions

Prawns; Marmite; good books; wearing black

Hobbies

Knitting; embroidery; cake decorating; flower arranging

Therapies

Grandchildren; chopping vegetables very small

Most quirky experience

Adding People’s Friend, My Weekly and Good Housekeeping publications to a heavy academic CV

Proudest achievement

Two children; becoming a grandparent