Blog 47 The 1968 duty rota. Do consultants still behave like this today?
June 14, 2020I applied for a post as a junior doctor for a newly appointed consultant physician and was fortunate to be appointed. The day after I started, I met another, more senior consultant, on the corridor. ‘I understand that you are now on the on-call rota,’ he said, pleasantly enough. ‘Yes, Sir, I am,’ I replied […] Read more
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Blog 46 The Doctor and the Car Mechanic
May 26, 2020Brian was in his fifties and recovering from a heart attack but he also had mitral valve disease and was an ideal patient for teaching students. He enjoyed being the subject and the centre of attention. I introduced him to a group of undergraduate students and took them through the basics of history taking before […] Read more
Blog 45 On flight medical emergency
May 7, 2020It’s been an idyllic holiday. For the last fortnight, my wife and I have escaped the British winter and cruised around the Caribbean on a luxury liner. We’ve visited ten different islands; St Kitts, St Lucia, Dominica, and Martinique amongst them and, as sit here on an Airbus 330 on the flight home, the long […] Read more
Blog 44 A game of cricket throws up a medical dilemma
April 7, 2020It was a Saturday afternoon in August 1976 and the occasion of the annual cricket match between the hospital consultants and the junior doctors. The juniors never had any trouble fielding a team, but the consultants often had to supplement their side with friends, relatives, or their colleagues in general practice. Since the object of the […] Read more
Blog 43 Doctors get in trouble with the police
February 10, 2020I had just taken delivery of a Triumph TR 2 Sportscar. It wasn’t new, of course, but it had still cost me the best part of a year’s salary. Low, sleek, and streamlined, in British racing green, with wire wheels, it was my pride and joy. Whenever off duty, I spent my time waxing the bodywork, […] Read more
Blog 42 Hanky Panky in the doctors’ residency
January 5, 2020Mrs Bridget Conlon’s job title at the hospital was Domestic Supervisor; her area of responsibility, the doctor’s residency. She had held the job for as long as anyone could remember. Her job description stated that she was employed to manage all aspects of the catering and accommodation for the 20 or so young doctors for […] Read more
Blog 41 French piles
December 4, 201966 A French Piles ‘Frank, my piles are killing me. I need something to give me some relief. It was so stupid of me not to bring my ointment. I can’t think how I forgot. Would you drive into that town we came through on the way here and see if you can pick something up […] Read more
Blog 40 A Yorkshire Obituary
November 6, 2019Farmer George Braithwaite and his wife Gladys had been happily married for 50 years when, quite suddenly, Gladys died. George was heartbroken, but being a practical man, he went to the funeral directors to make the appropriate arrangements, then visited the offices of The Yorkshire Post regarding an obituary. When informed of the cost, George […] Read more
Blog 39 Embarrassing Medical Moments
October 16, 2019Ellie Leyland was young and pretty. She was also an enthusiastic and conscientious doctor undertaking her first medical job in the days when newly qualified medics were required to be resident in the hospital. The first cardiac arrest to which she was called occurred at three o’clock one morning and, knowing how important it was […] Read more
Blog 38 An unwelcome revelation
September 17, 2019Annie Arnell had known that she was pregnant for at least three months before she plucked up courage to attend the Antenatal Clinic. She knew she should have gone sooner but had a morbid fear of hospitals. She’d had her appendix out as a child and now, even the smell of antiseptic was enough to […] Read more
