A NORTH-EAST heart surgeon will join 44 doctors from around the country to form the British Grand Prix medical team this week-end.
Consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and racing enthusiast Steven Hunter will be working at Silverstone while the event is held.
The surgeon, who normally works at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, has been part of the team for seven years and uses his own holidays to go to help at the race.
"When you have major events like this, spectators are on site for many hours," said Mr Hunter.
"All sorts of things happen and we have to be ready to help. It's more like working in accident and emergency than in the cardiothoracic unit I work in normally.
"They're both interesting and challenging places to work but very different."
The medical team is there for the drivers and support crews but, with about 110,000 people attending, they also treat spectators who become ill.
The hospital at Silverstone has a theatre, diagnostic facilities, beds and wards, and helicopter backup if they need to transfer a patient out.
Mr Hunter said: "The flag might have gone down but our race isn't over until we've sorted out the last patient and made sure they're comfortable."
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