Eye on the Horizon

Bayer plc

‘Eye on the Horizon’ is a dynamic podcast funded by Bayer plc and hosted by consultant ophthalmologist Peter Cackett (NHS Lothian) for pioneering healthcare professionals. In each episode, podcast host Peter Cackett (Consultant Ophthalmologist, NHS Lothian) meets with an inspirational guest to discuss their noteworthy career, delve into challenges of today and gain their perspective on topics of the future. This is a non-promotional podcast organised and funded by Bayer plc. September 2025 | PP-PF-OPHT-GB-1474 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 10/14/2025

    Leading with the senses: An interview with David Blunkett

    In this episode, podcast host Peter Cackett (consultant ophthalmologist, NHS Lothian) and guest speaker Lord David Blunkett (politician) discuss Lord Blunkett’s experience of coming to terms with sight loss at an early age and going on to build a career in politics. Lord David Blunkett is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside for over 25 years. Lord Blunkett played a pivotal role in shaping the UK’s domestic policy in the early 2000s during his time as Home Secretary. Beyond politics, he has been a passionate advocate for accessibility and has worked to expand opportunities for people with disabilities. This podcast contains content that some listeners may find upsetting. For support with mental health issues, please visit the links below: Dedicated mental health support for all NHS doctors and dentists: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dedicated-mental-health-support-for-all-nhs-doctors-and-dentists Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/ In this episode, Lord Blunkett reflects on the family circumstances that shaped his path and the challenges he overcame along the way. Packed with wisdom, humour and candid reflection, this episode offers inspiration and practical advice for anyone striving to make an impact, no matter the obstacles. This is a non-promotional podcast organised and fully funded by Bayer plc. October 2025 | PP-PF-OPHT-GB-1469 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  2. 07/15/2025

    From Code to Comedy: Strictly Unstoppable

    In this episode, podcast host Peter Cackett (Consultant Ophthalmologist, NHS Lothian) and guest speaker Chris McCausland (comedian and actor) discuss Chris’s career as a comedian and his personal journey coming to terms with his retinitis pigmentosa diagnosis. ​ ​ This episode delves into the challenges Chris encountered while building a successful career in comedy alongside progressive vision loss, the role of technology in supporting people with visual impairment, and his advice for both aspiring comedians and individuals adjusting to sight deterioration.​ ​ Chris originally studied and qualified as a software engineer; however, as his vision deteriorated, he made the decision to leave the tech industry and pursue a career in stand-up comedy in 2003. Since then, the British comedian has become well known on the comedy circuit and a stalwart in television panel shows following his breakthrough performance on Live at the Apollo in 2018. More recently, he won the most recent series of BBC’s family favourite, Strictly Come Dancing, in December 2024, and he's on a roll because his waltz with Dianne Buswell to ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ won the most memorable moment in TV at the recent British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) TV awards ceremony. ​ ​ This episode offers insight into the patient experience, exploring the daily challenges of living with retinitis pigmentosa and drawing inspiration from Chris’s unique personal and professional journey.​ ​ This is a non-promotional podcast organised and fully funded by Bayer plc.​ ​ July 2025 | PP-PF-OPHT-GB-1448​ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 3m
  3. 11/11/2024

    Beyond the Brain: Navigating Life as Both Neurosurgeon and Patient

    In this episode, podcast host Peter Cackett (Consultant Ophthalmologist, NHS Lothian) and guest speaker Henry Marsh CBE FRCS (neurosurgeon and author) discuss Henry’s career as a pioneering neurosurgeon and first-hand experience as both doctor and patient. This episode delves into the qualities that define a great surgeon, the emotional challenges of working in healthcare and Henry’s commitment to teaching the next generation of medical professionals, all while highlighting the often-overlooked patient perspective. Henry is a world-renowned British neurosurgeon and author, who worked as a neurosurgeon in London until 2015. Henry pioneered operating on the brain under local anaesthetic, and has worked with neurosurgeons in Ukraine since the end of the Cold War in 1992. He has featured in an episode of the BBC documentary series Your Life in Their Hands in 2004, is the subject the 2007 BBC film The English Surgeon and has published three memoirs, namely Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery, Admissions: Life as a Brain Surgeon and And Finally. Henry was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2010. This podcast episode explores how working in the NHS has changed over time, Henry’s advice for aspiring medical students and his personal experiences of working, teaching and being a patient in the NHS. This is a non-promotional podcast organised and fully funded by Bayer plc. October 2024 | PP-EYL-GB-2504 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  4. 07/31/2024

    The ‘I’, ‘We’ and ‘They’ of Mental Health Management

    In this episode, podcast host Peter Cackett (Consultant Ophthalmologist, NHS Lothian) and guest speaker Dame Clare Gerada (general practitioner and founder of the NHS Practitioner Health programme) discuss and explore numerous aspects relating to clinician well-being. These include the reasons for mental health issues in doctors and how these can be addressed; burnout and the risk of burnout in doctors; ways of recognising and preventing mental health issues in doctors; and the NHS Practitioner Health programme. This podcast contains content relating to mental health and suicide. For support with mental health issues, please visit the links below: Dedicated mental health support for all NHS doctors and dentists: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dedicated-mental-health-support-for-all-nhs-doctors-and-dentists Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/ Dame Clare Gerada studied medicine at University College London, training in medicine and psychiatry before becoming a general practitioner. Clare has over 35-years of experience practising medicine and is passionate about providing well-being support for staff in the NHS. Her training in psychiatry lends itself to Clare’s interest in managing substance abuse and addiction, and since Clare has been awarded an MBE in the Millennium Birthday Honours for her work in the field. This is a non-promotional podcast organised and funded by Bayer plc. July 2024 | PP-EYL-GB-2294 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

About

‘Eye on the Horizon’ is a dynamic podcast funded by Bayer plc and hosted by consultant ophthalmologist Peter Cackett (NHS Lothian) for pioneering healthcare professionals. In each episode, podcast host Peter Cackett (Consultant Ophthalmologist, NHS Lothian) meets with an inspirational guest to discuss their noteworthy career, delve into challenges of today and gain their perspective on topics of the future. This is a non-promotional podcast organised and funded by Bayer plc. September 2025 | PP-PF-OPHT-GB-1474 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.