A DOCTOR who helped save footballer Fabrice Muamba’s life, says restoring the public’s faith in a struggling health trust is a much bigger challenge.

Spurs fan and Barking Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT) Clinical Director for acute medicine Dr Andrew Deaner, found himself in the spotlight after rushing from the White Hart Lane crowd to help paramedics.

He advised on the resuscitation efforts, and escorted the stricken midfielder to the London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green.

But he told the Guardian: “I would regard myself as much more of a hero if I can help sort out BHRUT.”

Dr Deaner was appointed to his current position in January and spends the majority of his time at King George Hospital in Goodmayes.

The 48-year-old lives in Mill Hill, but was born at King George Hospital and grew up in the borough, attending Redbridge Primary School and West Hatch High in Chigwell.

While he has been happy to talk about Fabrice Muamba and has visited the recovering footballer, Dr Deaner said: “What I did on the pitch is something I do all the time.

“Sorting out the problems we have in the trust is a lot more challenging.

“I believe that just as in football, teamwork is going to be vital.

“We are all pulling together and working extremely hard to turn things around.”

BHRUT is currently under investigation by the Care Quality Commission over its standards of care and came under fire last week after a damning series of figures on emergency admission times at the trust came to light.

Dr Deaner said: “Of course things are difficult, but we are getting there.

“Everyone is working really hard to fulfil the requirements of the CQC and give patients a better experience.

“I want to make Queen’s in particular a place where people want to come, and I think we are starting to make progress.

“For instance, today is the first day that none of the patients on the medical specialty wards has had to be moved to another ward.”

While he has been supporting Tottenham since he was a boy, Dr Deaner is often too busy with his work to attend matches.

He says his fondest football memory is Ricky Villa’s famous goal in the 1981 FA Cup Final, often referred to as the greatest ever scored at Wembley.

He added: “I was behind the goal for that one, it was stunning.

“I would say Glenn Hoddle is the best player I’ve seen, but Ossie Ardiles, Villa and Jurgen Klinsmann are also favourites of mine.”

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