Health
I never set out to become a health specialist, but somehow I often seem to come back to writing about it.
As a feature writer, I’ve written on a huge variety of health issues - from ataxia (for The Guardian) to insomnia (for Sunday Times Style) to facelifts (for Sunday Telegraph Stella) to the experiences of disabled mothers (for SHE). I’ve written over a dozen health features for the NHS website on everything from how to stop smoking to childhood vaccinations to overcoming anxiety and accessing therapy. And as a copywriter for the likes of BMI Healthcare and The Prudential, I’ve written patient information on conditions from cancer to hypertension to gout to allergies. For over a year I wrote regularly for diabetes magazine Sweet (now sadly closed) on all things relevant to people with diabetes.
In terms of specific areas of interest, I write especially on all aspects of women’s health. Fertility; pregnancy; hormones; periods; motherhood – you name it; I’ve probably covered it! I’ve investigated what on earth a Mooncup is for The Sunday Times Style, I’ve blogged about the weird postpregnancy body changes no -one prepares you for for Parentdish.co.uk, I’ve reported on whether we know too much or too little about our health for Red and I’ve interviewed fertility guru Toni Wescher for The Times Weekend.
Mental health and psychology is another area I specialise in. I’ve reported on adult women with eating disorders for Red and Observer Woman; found out what happens when a doctor admits to mental illness for The Sunday Times Style, and spent a week asking for what I want for Red.
My third health specialism is close to my heart: fetal and neonatal healthcare. Having recently been through the experience of having an ill baby, who was born premature and spent his first five months in neonatal care, I’m starting to write as a journalist on this topic – watch this space.