James is General Manager, Medical Directorate, Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust

James Avery studied at Nottingham University School of Nursing and subsequently spent ten years at Nottingham University Hospitals. Early clinical work centred on acute medicine and cardiac care with a progression to leadership roles in these areas. James worked as part of the Acute Medicine redesign team which achieved Acute Medicine Team of the Year in the 2006 Hospital Doctor Awards.

Whilst in Nottingham James joined a group committed to improving patient safety and who subsequently set up a medical simulation centre using high fidelity simulators to rehearse clinical procedures. This work, stemming from the aviation centre gave a unique approach to improving safety is now implemented across many centres in the UK.