Consultant in Acute Medicine, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Saba Mahmood is a Consultant in Acute Medicine at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, combining exceptional clinical leadership with a genuine commitment to the people she works alongside. In one of the most demanding environments in the NHS, she leads with calm authority, compassion, and a clear strategic vision for how acute services can work better for patients and staff alike.

Her most significant achievement has been redesigning the acute take pathway, introducing Same Day Emergency Care pathways and improving management protocols that have reduced length of stay and improved patient flow. Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, she has delivered measurable improvements in patient outcomes, efficiency, and staff morale — changes that have transformed how acute medical services are experienced by patients across East Kent.

Beyond the clinical floor, Dr Mahmood leads quality improvement initiatives, contributes to governance processes, and as Staff Governor at EKHUFT, brings frontline insight directly to Trust board discussions. As LFD Lead for Urgent and Emergency Care, she champions safety, learning from incidents, and continuous improvement across the urgent and emergency care pathway.

Colleagues describe her as visible, approachable, and deeply invested in their development. She mentors junior doctors, promotes psychological safety, and ensures every member of her team feels valued and supported — recognising that compassionate leadership is the foundation of safe patient care.

Dr Mahmood is one of 78 NHS South East colleagues featured in a campaign marking the NHS’s 78th birthday and the first anniversary of England’s 10 Year Health Plan.