About

Dr Kirkland is a multi-award winning freelance investigative journalist and a working General Practitioner. She qualified as a doctor in 2005 and also has a degree in Neuroscience from the University of Birmingham. In 2013, she obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from Cardiff University and two years later was a mentee of the John Schofield Trust.

Dr Kirkland has researched and reported investigations for TV, radio and print outlets including: Panorama, BBC News, BBC Breakfast, Radio 4, Newsnight and the Guardian. Her ground breaking investigations have been discussed in the House Commons and led to changes in regulation. She continues to work as a General Practitioner in London, as well as regularly providing out of hours care.

In October 2019 she was presented with the prestigious annual HealthWatch Award.

Awards

Finalist, Freelance of the Year

Finalist, Feature of the Year (broadcast), 2021

Winner, broadcast media, Bar Council Legal Reporting Awards, 2020

Finalist, Health and Life Sciences Journalism, British Journalism Awards, 2020

Finalist, Health and Life Sciences Journalism, British Journalism Awards, 2019

Winner, HealthWatch Award, 2019

Highly commended, investigative journalism, Statistical Excellence in Journalism awards, 2019

Finalist, feature of the year (broadcast), 2019

Winner, freelance journalist of the year, 2018

Rising star of the year, 2017

Highly commended, freelance journalist of the year, 2017

Winner, best newcomer, 2016

Finalist, best investigative journalism, 2016

Highly commended, broadcast journalist of the year, 2015

Conflicts of interest

Dr Kirkland is paid on a freelance basis from media organisations. She is also paid for work as a General Practitioner for in and out of hours care in England. She has lectured at Cardiff University, King’s College London and City, University of London and received a fee.

In 2018-2019 she was on the Executive Committee of the Medical Journalists’ Association.