Saturday, 17 August 2013

Day nineteen - Friday

Up early again, in for tutorial at 0745. Managed to get up before 0730 for this one though! ECG's by one of the consultants = really useful recap over third year stuff, definitely brought a lot of it back. Was taught really well, informal atmosphere where we could ask questions and really interactive. Annoying wasp in the room though, I attempted to swat it but missed, just had to put up with it buzzing around for the 45min session!

Board round 0830, then went on the medical round this time. Following that nipped up to the canteen for a bacon sandwidge mid-morning snack (ok, early morning). I ran a few errands on the wards before clerking in a patient referred in by a GP, who turned out to have quite a complex medical history. No-one seemed to know what was going on (me included) so after presenting to one of the docs I sent off some bloods to the lab then it was time for lunch, soup and apple crumble!

Back on the ward, went to see the mystery patient with one of the consultants. Quickly recapped the history, examined and then came up with an action plan. After sorting out the prescriptions and documenting in the notes, the patient was free to go. I then headed up to theatre to see an A&E admission that needed an op on a penetrating injury. Scrubbed in and got involved, the surgeons are all really nice here! Explained things as they went along, answered my questions, allowed me to participate and feel involved = great. The rest of the theatre staff (ODPs, scrub nurses etc) have always been very friendly, prompting me to get involved if I’m hanging back a little. Very supportive atmosphere. This was the same surgeon who earlier in the week had run a fracture clinic and done a list of scopes, now doing trauma surgery. Such massive variety – requiring such a large skill base. Going to be difficult to replace surgeons like this once they retire, as new trainees won’t have anywhere near the same repertoire of operations.

Following that patients surgery it was pretty much time to leave. I headed back to the house, did 30min scales practice on violin then onto a BBQ at one of the consultants houses in the evening = great evening! Weather managed to hold for the outdoor grilling of chicken/sausage/burger before we retreated inside for a piano based sing-a-long session led by one of the enigmatic consultants here. Lots of barriers got broken down – can’t imagine ever going to a similar thing anywhere else, where medical students, juniors, STs and consultants are all grouped round a roaring fire and a piano, singing borderline-offensive ‘traditional’ Scottish songs = hilarious! Great for getting to know the new F2s and STs a little better too. Rolled back to my accomodation at 0230... (hence why I'm writing this the morning after!)

No comments:

Post a Comment