Jenny S. Ackroyd Lennox (1950 – 2004) was a vascular surgeon at Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust. She was the first woman to be appointed a registrar at St Thomas' Hospital. Ackroyd established the day surgery unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Jenny Ackroyd
Born1950 (1950)
Leeds, England
Died5 September 2004(2004-09-05) (aged 53–54)
Alma materNew Hall, Cambridge
Known forVascular surgery
Scientific career
InstitutionsMiddlesex Hospital
Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Early life and education

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Ackroyd was born in Leeds.[1] She was the fourth of five children of Peter and Evelyn Ackroyd. Her father was an academic at King's College London.[1] Ackroyd attended James Allen's Girls' School. She studied fine arts and medicine at the University of Cambridge, where she was a member of New Hall.[1] Ackroyd completed her junior doctor training at the Middlesex Hospital, where she was the first woman surgical registrar.[1] In 1986 Ackroyd earned a Master's in surgery at the University of Cambridge; and may have been the first woman to do so.[1]

Career

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Ackroyd was a founder of the Royal College of Surgeons Women in Surgical Training programme.[2] In 1987 Ackroyd was appointed as a Consultant Surgeon at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust. She raised money to develop a day surgery unit at the hospital.[3] The wing is home to a same-day admission facility, 82 beds and two operating theatres.[3]

In 1992, Ackroyd lost her sight in one eye after developing a melanoma, but continued to work and became known as the "partially sighted, female surgeon from Wareside".[1] She was invited by the Royal National Institute of Blind People to attend the 1993 Women of the Year Lunch.[1]

Ackroyd was responsible for the building of a new surgical wing, which was opened by the health secretary in 2004.[4][5] Ackroyd died on 5 September 2004.[4][6] The Jenny Ackroyd Surgical Symposium is an annual celebration of Ackroyd's life.[7] There is a tree planted in Ackroyd's memory at the Capio Rivers Hospital.[8]

Personal life

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Ackroyd was married to the surgeon Malcolm Lennox. Together they had two children, Sophie and Sandy.[1] Ackroyd was a member of St Mary's Church Choir.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Longer version". BMJ. 29 July 2019. ISSN 1756-1833.
  2. ^ sitecore\lewis.ashman@rcseng.ac.uk. "Women in Surgery (WinS)". Royal College of Surgeons. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Living tribute to dedicated surgeon". East London and West Essex Guardian Series. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  4. ^ a b Lennox, M S (16 October 2004). "Jenny Lennox (née Ackroyd)". The BMJ. 329 (7471): 921. ISSN 0959-8138. PMC 523173.
  5. ^ "Tangram Architects - Acute Care". www.tangramarchitects.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  6. ^ Vijay, Vardhini; Kazzaz, Sarmad; Refson, Jonathan (13 June 2008). "The same day admissions unit for elective surgery: a case study". International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance. 21 (4): 374–379. doi:10.1108/09526860810880171. PMID 18785463.
  7. ^ "JASS Event (Jenny Ackroyd Surgical Symposium)". ACPGBI. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  8. ^ "IN MEMORY: Tree planting for surgeon". East London and West Essex Guardian Series. 7 April 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2019.