Blog 79 Beware the Hospital Ghost
February 6, 2023At the start of my career when I was relatively new to pathology, the department had two trainees, both studying for their higher national certificates. The more senior was John Adams, the more junior Steve Wilcox. Both were pleasant young men who later qualified to become pathology laboratory technicians. Their training included being on duty […] Read more
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Blog 78 The hospital show in days gone by
December 12, 2022A much anticipated event in the hospital calendar in days gone by was the Christmas show. It was a once a year opportunity for the junior doctors and nurses to poke fun at the matron and, of course, the senior doctors. Mostly, the consultants took it in good heart and were disappointed if they did […] Read more
Blog 77 Advice from a medical father
October 17, 2022It was Nat’s 16th birthday. He had received presents and good wishes from his parents, told that ‘No he wasn’t going to be allowed to buy a motor bike’ and was receiving advice from his medical father about the dangers of drugs. ‘Listen, Son,’ said his Dad, ‘if you can come to me on your 18th birthday, […] Read more
Blog 76 Innocence lost
September 25, 2022When I was a child, our next door neighbours were Greg and Mary Stratton. They had a daughter called Heidi who was much the same age as I. Neither of us had brothers or sisters and as a result we spent a lot of time playing together, becoming great friends. Our parents were friends too […] Read more
Blog 75 Journeys in Opposite Directions
July 30, 2022In recent years I’ve started to rise early and go for a run before going to work. The exercise does me good and after a long soak in the shower, I feel invigorated and ready to face whatever challenges await me when I arrive at the surgery. Recently though I’ve moderated my physical activity as […] Read more
Blog 74 Takes of courting in a by-gone world
July 13, 2022In modern times it seems to me that when a young man asks a girl for a date, he expects her to be stork-proof and willing to stay for breakfast. But before the pill, free love and flower power, things were very different. Courting was a sedate affair; relationships progressing far more slowly than is […] Read more
Blog 73 My job interview goes catastrophically badly
May 20, 2022Working as a trainee in the Accident and Emergency Medical Department, I treated 3 young lads whose wrists had been broken as they stood with their hands on the barrier whilst watching a football match. Their wrists had been overextended as the crowd behind them surged down the terraces when a goal had been scored. […] Read more
Blog 72 I think I may have swallowed some gas, Doctor
May 1, 2022A few years ago, I was on the front line in our Accident and Emergency Department when a kid of about 17 attended. He looked anxious but also had a shifty look on his face. He said he had been ‘out on the town’ and might have swallowed some gas. He was cagey about the circumstances but I […] Read more
Blog 71 My First Academic Paper and Presentation
April 16, 2022Working in the casualty department on the day that City played United at Old Trafford, I treated 3 young lads who had been injured whilst on the terraces watching the match. Their wrists had been over stretched and broken when there had been a surge down the terraces during an exciting moment during a match. […] Read more
Blog 70 A medical Misunderstanding
April 1, 2022Maisie and Michael Simpson were ten year old twins. Both were good looking kids but there the similarity ended. Michael was bright, always near the top of the class, getting good reports at school. He was also a promising athlete and sportsman. He played for the school teams at football and cricket and as a result […] Read more
