Dr Anthony Mc Grath

Biography

Anthony began his nursing career in Ireland as a mental health nurse prior to moving to the UK to accept a staff nurse post in an acute mental health unit. He then took the opportunity to train as an adult nurse at St Marys hospital Paddington. Whilst undertaking his nursing course Anthony simultaneously began to read for a degree in Social Sciences. On qualifying as an adult nurse, he spent the first part of his career working in a variety of specialties that included coronary care, liver transplantation, endocrinology, respiratory medicine, HIV, coloproctology and A&E. He completed his degree with a 2:1 and this enabled him to change his career path when offered the opportunity to undertake teacher training. He then accepted a teaching post at City, University of London for 6 years where he developed the first Inflammatory Bowel disease Course in the UK as well as an MSc in Coloproctology nursing. He was also a member of a team that developed one of the first Advanced practice courses in the UK. He left City, to gain further teaching experience at Middlesex university before returning to City as a Principal lecturer where he remained for a further 6 years, taking the lead on advanced practice as well as working as a research fellow at the Homerton hospital exploring risk management in stoma care. He was awarded a grant of £180000 to undertake this work. He then moved to the university of Bedfordshire for 7 years where he had two roles firstly as Principal Lecturer Advanced Practice. Whilst at the UoB he took o the role of Head of Department Acute Care which encompassed, nursing, midwifery and ODP teams. He then took on the role of Head of Clinical Education and Leadership where he Led and managed a team of Doctors, Dentists, Medical and Dental Education teams, Community heath teams and the Simulation and human factors team. Anthony then moved to LSBU as Head of Adult Nursing and Midwifery, where he remained for eight years. Whilst there he was promoted to the Deputy Dean role. He was then appointed Dean of Nursing and Midwifery where he led a team of over 160 academic staff and managed a £30 + million budget. Whilst At LSBU he led on the development of a brand-new campus in Croydon and during the Covid pandemic he led on the development, building and operating of a Covid testing site for the staff and students at LSBU. Then in 2023 Anthony accepted a post at the University of Essex as Head of nursing where he is currently working. Alongside his academic career he joined the Army Reserve in 2001 He was commissioned to the substantive rank of Captain after Sandhurst. In 2004 he deployed to Iraq as a nursing officer with the UK Medical Group at the hospital facility at Shiabah. He extended his tour and was posted to work as a HDU nurse alongside the American Air force hospital staff at the hospital in Balad Iraq. He attended and passed his Intermediate officer’s course in the top 10% and he was promoted to the substantive rank of Major. He also took on the role of Officer commanding D Detachment, Mile end in the same year. In 2009 he deployed to Afghanistan based at the hospital in camp Bastion where he worked as the Deputy Chief nurse and Training officer. In May 2010 he was appointed as second in command Nursing squadron and in February 2011 attended and passed his Intermediate Staff Officers Course where he was placed in the top one-third of the cohort. In January 2012 he passed the Team Medics instructor course. In May 2013 he was appointed as Matron and Officer commanding Nursing Squadron and promoted to the rank of Lt Col. He became a member of the Army Nursing Research Professoriate, and he served as a trustee for the QA Nursing Charity. In Jan 2016 he was appointed Clinical Director and Officer Commanding Clinical Squadron, which was made up of Combat Med techs, Physiotherapists, Radiographers, Biomedical scientists, Dentists and Doctors. In Jan 2019 he became the Regimental second in command prior to being promoted to full Colonel in 2020 when he became Commanding Officer. During his tenure as CO the unit received the Privilege of the City of London, Led the Lord Mayors show, and were the lead medical unit in London for the Queens Funeral and the Kings Coronation. Anthony retired from the Army in Jan 2024.

Appointments

University of Essex

• Head of Nursing, Nursing, University of Essex (1/9/2023 - present)

Other academic

• Head of Nursing, University of Essex (1/9/2023 - present)