University honours Bristol children's doctor

A Bristol children's doctor has been given an honorary degree by the University of the West of England.

Professor Bhupinder Sandhu was honoured in a service at Bristol Cathedral for her contribution to public services and charities, and for being a role model for women in science and medicine and for individuals from ethnic minorities.

The paediatric gastroenterologist has worked at Bristol Children's Hospital for 21 years, and when she started she was the only woman doctor on site.

She came to England from India in 1963 and had to study in her own time to make up the qualifications she needed to read medicine at university.

After her appointment in Bristol, she built a children's gastroenterology unit dealing with nutritional diseases.

The unit now serves the whole of the region.

Professor Sandhu is visiting professor in child health, gastroenterology and nutrition at the University of West of England (UWE) and Bristol University, based at their Joint Centre for Child and Adolescent Health.

She is also president of the Commonwealth Association of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, and served on an advisory committee to Commonwealth Health Ministers. Prof Sandhu is chairwoman of the British Medical Association Equal Opportunities Committee and has also served as president of The Medical Women's Federation.

She said: "I am delighted and deeply appreciative of this honour being bestowed on me by the UWE. I value my links with this university, which places such high value on access and opportunity in education for all and plays such a vital role in the training of health professionals.

"Women are playing an increasingly important role in science and medicine, although there are still many barriers to overcome.

"In honouring me today the university is indirectly honouring the contribution of all the women in science."