I have known Nicola since late 2009 when we met brieflyย at a fertility convention in central London and established professionalย contact soon after. Smuts Allsop enquired whether I would be willing to seeย couples whom she had seen professionally but required medical or specialistย advice about options for their fertility assessment and treatment. Smuts Allsop’sย referred patients come well informed, speaking highly of her and theย guidance provided by her about options relevant to them, emphasising theย benefit of specialist medical advice in addition to her counsel.
I have notedย that couples referred had a realistic perspective in their expectation ofย success, attributed to the consultation session they had with Smuts Allsop, clearlyย and professionally explained. In my experience in this field for over 25ย years, I have rarely worked with a non-medically trained colleague who hasย been able to advise couples in their plight for parenthood.
These skills areย not often seen in conventionally trained counsellors and psychologists. It isย noteworthy that Smuts Allsop is currently undertaking an MA course toย consolidate the academic basis of her professional work.
Sinceย arriving in UK several years ago Smuts Allsop has made, and will continueย to make her special contribution to the lives of couples embarking onย parenthood, as well as supporting her medical colleagues.