Day fourty-three - Monday

beep... beep... BEEP BEEP BEEP - groggily surfaced from deep sleep to the blaring of an alarm in our corridor. Pulled my phone over, checked the time. 0430. What the... Out into the corridor saw it was the fire alarm going off. All the doors opened as people leaned out, collectively wondering what was going on. Guess we had to evacuate the building, sigh. I grabbed my belay jacket on the way out, glad of it once outside - it was freezing! Stars were out though. Everyone from the accomodation on the south side of Laxdale had evacuated, and around 5mins later two fire engines rocked up. Reminded me of halls in first year! Obviously it was a false alarm. After the firemen had sullenly checked every block they drove off, guess we could go back in then. 5hrs later my alarm went off again and the day began...

Fire engine drama at 0430

Into A&E by 1100, greeted by a fairly empty waiting room, maybe it was going to be a slow day? Saw a patient straight away, surgical problem, took history/examined/cannulated/bloods. Drew up provisional action plan, but with a complex history the surgeons were going to decide what to do with them eventually. Met up with the Aberdeen students and had some lunch in the doctors room.

Back in A&E by 1400 and patients had started streaming through the doors. Saw a good variety of stuff all afternoon, every room (all four of them/five if you count the corridor bed which was in use at one point) was full from 1500 to 1900. Loads of patients, everyone went into proper work mode and I think I was actually able to help out by clerking some of them, presenting to juniors and getting them shifted either home or into the hospital. Saw a bit of trauma/spine stuff, chest pain, stuff that should have gone to GP, surgical stuff. Then just as A&E was quietening down the crash bleep went off - I was running down the corridor with the doc when the door to our right flew open and another group of 3 nurses/docs joined us from upstairs, all very dramatic. Thankfully nothing major once we arrived, but took a little time to sort everything out before leaving.

Headed back to flat by 2000 for spag bol and a brew - successful day. Chatted to Mike about Skye this weekend, gonna give the Cuillin ridge traverse a go, weather permitting. The ferry over is only £11 return for foot passenger from Tarbert to Uig! Internet in the flat wasn't working so made my way up to the library at the hospital for an hour to send some emails. Met Andrea/Mark up there before going back. Hope tomorrow is as busy as this afternoon was!