Blog 94 In desperate need of contraceptive advice
February 6, 2025Dr Julie Smith was coming to the end of a busy family planning clinic. During a long and tiring day, she had discussed the merits of contraceptive pills, caps, condoms, coils, implants and surgery over and over again. She feared the disenchantment she felt might become apparent to her patients, or clients, as her boss […] Read more
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Blog 93 Obtaining Informed Consent
January 6, 2025On 19 July 2010 I had been blue-lighted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, because my General Practitioner was concerned I was losing consciousness. Following triage, I was scuttled away for a scan of my brain. (See image ) Whilst I was fading into a coma, a doctor told my wife Anne that it was necessary to […] Read more
Blog 92 Christmas Eve in Hospital 50 years ago
December 18, 2024Hospital life has changed enormously over the last 60 years, no more so than in the way that Christmas is celebrated. In those days a unique seasonal atmosphere developed during Christmas week and for those of us who were fortunate enough to be resident at that time, celebrating Christmas in hospital was a memorable experience. […] Read more
Blog 91 Manager outwits his medical colleagues
November 5, 2024Paul entered the committee room with some trepidation but was grateful when Mr Weston, his consultant boss, beckoned him to sit in an adjacent chair. This was his first appearance representing the junior doctors at the consultants’ meeting. After ‘apologies for absence’ had been noted and the minutes of the previous meeting agreed and signed, […] Read more
Blog 90 Remembering my horrific motorcycle accident
October 21, 2024On the evening of 7 June 2010, I was being pursued on my 1100cc Moto Guzzi Breva around Suffolk lanes by a RoSPA observer who would pass comment on my ride. However, events shifted because I blacked out whilst approaching a tight left-hand bend, hit a grass verge, and flew with serene motocross elegance into a […] Read more
Blog 89 Alan’s story; a nurse’s tale from long ago
September 9, 2024Alan was a four year old boy who had been on the children’s ward for several weeks. His strength was slowly slipping away. On his ‘good’ days, he would play with the other children, enjoying the toys and teddy bears that they invariably had – but he had not. On his ‘bad’ days he was […] Read more
Blog 88 Unfit for human consumption
August 8, 2024‘Telephone for you, Mr Lambert.’ I groaned; why, oh why, do people have to ring in the middle of my Monday clinic interrupting me when I’m busy with a patient. ‘Is it urgent?’ I ask of the nurse who had brought the message. Apparently it was so I apologised to the ‘dishabille’ patient. The caller […] Read more
Blog 87 Marriage Proposals Sixties style
June 9, 2024Only rarely these days will a young man be sufficiently old fashioned to ask a girl’s father for permission to take her hand in marriage. It is understandable that fathers wish to interrogate those wishing to marry their daughters, not least to make certain they are financially secure. The experience of a father of four […] Read more
Blog 86 Dr James Bond to the rescue
May 21, 2024Ian was a general practitioner in Herefordshire and enjoyed his life there immensely. He found that one of the delights of being a doctor in a rural practice was that he was able to blend seamlessly into country life although, like the local vicar, publican, and vet, he was distinguished by virtue of his profession. […] Read more
Blog 85 A teething problem on the ward many years ago
April 16, 2024Mrs Meek was a big woman. She was loud, domineering and opinionated – all in all an intimidating woman who certainly wasn’t ‘meek’ by nature. She had been admitted with abdominal pain but bitterly resented having to be in the main ward and she wearied the nurses with her constant demands and criticisms. She also irritated her […] Read more
