Dr Bates trained at St Thomas’ and Guy’s Hospitals Medical School, graduating in 1994. He held posts as a junior doctor in the UK, then travelling to Australia to work in A+E, oncology, medicine, ITU and anaesthetics. He returned to the UK in 1997 to work in Oncology, before joining P+O Cruises as a Ship’s Doctor in 1999, passing the MRCP in 2000.
He then worked in Medical Repatriation for seven years, completing the Diploma of Tropical Medicine (Liverpool) in 2001 before training as a GP in Wonersh, Surrey in 2003. He passed the MRCGP with Distinction and joined Fort House Surgery in 2004.
He has developed interests in travel and tropical medicine, general and chest medicine, and health inequalities. From 2020 to 2023 he was Clinical Lead for Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism for Surrey Heartlands ICB before joining the new University of Surrey Medical School in 2024 as a Senior Clinical Lecturer in General Practice.
He is married with three children; personal interests include playing football, keeping fit, and ferrying his children to many sporting events.