Blog 9 Health service bureaucracy goes mad
April 9, 2018Tension often exists between healthcare managers and those at the coal face. The former may regard doctors and nurses as obdurate and resistant to change; the latter may feel that many directives are unnecessary and unhelpful. Of all the directives ever issued however, the one reproduced below surely takes the biscuit. Memo to all NHS […] Read more
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Blog 8 Nurse Janet’s Ethical Dilemma
March 23, 2018Janet smiled to herself as she ran across the concourse at Euston Station to catch the train north. She felt relaxed and happy; proud of her recent achievement. She had completed her nurse training at St Thomas’ Hospital, passing the final examination with honours. She was now on her way to take up a post […] Read more
Blog 7 Urine tests, loose stools and syphilis
March 19, 2018The clinical assessment, essentially a practical examination, was the critical part of the final examination which would decide whether I was fit to put the letters MB ChB after my name and commence my life as a doctor. It began with a requirement to analyse a specimen of urine. With three other equally apprehensive candidates, […] Read more
Blog 6 First steps on my medical journey
March 8, 2018I was facing the hurdle which would decide whether the five long years I’d spent as a medical student were finally coming to an end. I was tackling the MB ChB examination – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. Succeed and I became a doctor – fail and I faced a further 6 months of […] Read more
Blog 5 A bizarre family planning consultation
March 2, 2018Dr Julie Smith was coming to the end of a busy family planning clinic. It had been a long day and she tired. She had discussed the merits of contraceptive pills, caps, condoms, injections, implants and coils so frequently that she feared her disenchantment with the work might become apparent to her patients, or clients […] Read more
Blog 4 The nurse knows best
March 1, 2018Scene An emergency department 50 years ago. Whilst working nervously in casualty at the City General Hospital during my first week as a doctor, I’d been completely unaware of the time but it was already one in the morning; I was tired and hungry. Seven long hours had passed since I last had anything decent […] Read more
Blog 3 Upsetting our European friends
March 1, 2018It is very much my hope that this blog will develop into an ‘open forum’ to which everyone can contribute so if you have a memorable story, anecdote or notable reminiscence, whether as a carer or perhaps as a patient, please get in touch. First contact should simply be with the gist of the story, […] Read more
Blog 2 Cats
January 4, 2018Miss Mullins has brought her pregnant cat to the emergency department where the medical staff have diagnosed an obstructed labour. They need some specialist obstetrical advice! Dr Bill Makin picked up the telephone and asked the switchboard to put him through to St Margaret’s. It was the first time anyone had thought or perhaps dared, […] Read more
Blog 1 Catastrophe and cats
November 12, 2017Utterly dejected, I collapsed into the dilapidated armchair in the corner of the room, my head in my hands, tears in my eyes, my confidence shattered. I was distraught; my mood one of total wretchedness and despair. I felt sick, my mouth was dry and my hands trembled. It was four in the morning and […] Read more