Dr Ajit Kumar Verma

I have been a Consultant Physician & Geriatrician with a special interest in Stroke Medicine at Royal Gwent Hospital since 2011. In NHS practise I participate in acute medical take and Stroke thrombolysis service, manage a busy acute care of the elderly ward besides running a weekly specialist medical and TIA clinics at Royal Gwent & St Woolos Hospitals.

As a clinical director for medicine for older people I have the privilege of leading a large multidisciplinary team, Having received higher specialist training in General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in South wales as a registrar with ABUHB and Cardiff & Vale University Health Boards since 2006, I am well familiar with local population needs.

“I believe in holistic assessments, prudent health care delivery, and in building a sound doctor-patient relationship with the key focus to treat the whole person, rather than only treating disease or organ conditions. When required I liaise with the relevant specialist/ multidisciplinary teams for individualised treatment and care plans.”

I graduated from Patna Medical College (previously Prince of Wales Medical College), India in 1996. Afterwards, I completed postgraduate training in General Internal Medicine and research work on Diabetes leading to award of MD in 2001 from Kanpur University. Afterwards, I worked as a cardiology registrar with Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi for 2 years. I relocated to the UK for MRCP in 2003, very soon qualified and received medical training in England. 

Throughout my medical career, I have managed acute medical emergencies and chronic medical conditions involving diabetes, hypertension, heart, lung, gastrointestinal, neurological, metabolic and infectious disease conditions in young as well as elderly adults providing me vast medical experience.

My expertise and training include healthful ageing, Stroke & TIA management; Parkinson’s disease, Falls& syncope, Tilt table testing, Dementia, Delirium, Heart failure, Frailty, Osteoporosis & bone health, Orthogeriatrics, Perioperative care, Rehabilitation & multimorbid long term conditions for the elderly as well as younger adults. 

I am an accredited clinical and educational supervisor for trainee doctors and examiner for postgraduate MRCP (UK) PACES examination. I lead postgraduate education for Geriatric Medicine and organise Gwent study days for Geriatrics & stroke. I have been an honorary clinical teacher at Cardiff University.

I have presented in national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. I enjoy lecturing on a wide range of topics including comprehensive geriatric assessments, successful ageing, prognostication at old age, stroke/TIA management, post-stroke recovery, polypharmacy issues, Atrial fibrillation, anticoagulation in ageing, dementia, delirium & medicolegal aspects in elderly care. 

I have had actively contributed to service improvement work in NHS leadership role and am quite familiar with the local community’s unique health needs. 

What to expect from a private consultation:

•    Generous consultation times:

•   New consultations - 45 minutes. Follow up - up to 30 minutes.

•    Through listening to your concerns.

•    Comprehensive and holistic assessments including medication reviews, psychological, cognitive, nutritional and functional aspects.

•    Full clinical examination.

•    Organisation of necessary laboratory investigations/scans.

•    Possible diagnosis explained & Shared decision making. 

•    Prescriptions & Clinic letters to GPs & patients.

•    Liaison/collaboration with specialist services/ physiotherapists.

•    Follow up appointments when required.

For patients undergoing or planning to go for surgical procedures:

• Prognostication and Perioperative assessments 
• Optimising medical treatment prior to and after surgery
• Medical complications/delirium management
• Post-surgical rehabilitation and discharge planning issues
• Orthogeriatrics - when undergoing bone and spinal surgeries.     

General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics (Medicine for older people) & Stroke Medicine.

• MBBS, MD, MRCP UK, MRCP (Geriatrics), FRCP Edin

Year of first medical qualification: 1996

Membership of professional bodies: GMC, British Medical Association, British Geriatrics Society, Welsh Association of Stroke Physicians.

Clinical Director, Medicine for older people, Royal Gwent Hospital, ABUHB, Newport.

 I Singh, K Morgan, A Verma, G Belludi, S Aithal. Does nurse’s education reduce their work-related stress in the care of older people, Journal of Clinical Gerontology and Geriatrics 6, 1; March 15,34-37 

Khanna K, Verma A, Richard B. “The locked-in syndrome”: Can it be unlocked?  Journal of Clinical Gerontology and Geriatrics, Dec 2011,2;4:96-99

Verma A, Hasan T. Thyroid disorders in older people. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, Aug 2009, 18; 3:193-206

Verma A. Stroke in young adults- A review. Welsh Stroke Bulletin Sept 2008; 18:8-12

Malik A, Verma A, Richard B, Khanna P. Epilepsy in Stroke. GM2, 2009; 39; supplement 5:8-11