Medical Tales

  It was 1966 and 70 newly qualified doctors were applying for their first medical job as house officers at Manchester Royal Infirmary.   Frederick Swindles, the secretary to the Medical Board, appeared holding a clipboard.    He called for attention, then detailed the arrangements for the interviews.      Eight posts were available.   “You will be called into the interview room in two groups,” he said.       “The first group will be doctors with surnames from A to M.     The second group will be doctors whose names range from N to Z.   I will lead each group into the committee room.    Inside, you will find the consultants sitting on the right hand side.     You will line up opposite the consultants with Dr Abbott at the far end and Dr McDonald, as the last one to enter the room, by the door.    When you are all in place, I shall call out your names one by one.     You will answer to your name in turn.       At the completion of this exercise there may be a pause and some