I ought to carry on the tale of whistle blowing really. Of late I have been rather distracted with other matters namely the antics of the General Medical Council.
Times were tough in 1999. Selly Oak Hospital Birmingham caused me so much misery that I thought it would be too miserable to write about it today. I will though one day after consuming a large quantity of chocolate!
For now though I felt it was important to talk about fixing up references. By 1999, I had my GMC Registration but no references. The problem with a distinct lack of references is also the lack of jobs. Now, superglue doesn't work during these circumstances so you have to use your imagination and some duck tape. As usual, I was out of money. Money is always one of those things that drives you to do something about the circumstances you find yourself in. A locum agency had used some of my past references and offered me a job in the Isle of Wight. So, off I went, Renault Clio with tons of CDs, plus chocolate. The worst part was the fact I discovered I suffered from sea sickness on the ferry. It may have had something to do with the Maltesers I had scoffed in the car!
The job in the Isle of Wight was great. I did though discover how badly nursing homes treated their elderly folk. I also discovered the arrogance of indian doctors who didn't know the system but were too arrogant to learn about it. I recall one being repeatedly told by the consultant to check the patients blood sugars. He didn't. By nightfall, the patient was in ITU. That was something that could have been avoided had he taken just that little more care.
At the Isle of Wight, I was given a PRHO [Pre-Registration House Officer] to take care of. Much like me, she had her life made miserable by Southampton University. I forget her name but I gave her something that she thanked me for - that was the confidence to believe in herself. We worked well together - and over the two weeks she blossomed from a dithering doctor to someone who knew her stuff and was confident in her abilities. She told me that on the day I left.
I disliked what Southampton had done to her. She was typical of many junior doctors who fell under the pressure of victimisation. I suspect unlike me they did not have the attitude of " there is always chocolate".
The good thing about the Isle of Wight was that I ran into my friend at medical school Rami. Rami being the rebel he was had a skirmish with St Georges Hospital London, and had fought his way out of it. He had long hair, was an Egyptian and knew how to kick some ass. Rami I believe became a psychiatrist somewhere when he grew up.
I have fond memories of Rami who revised with me at medical school finals and whined away about how his long hair just didn't fit with the rest of the boring medics. Rami and I finally ran into each other again in the Isle of Wight. I was sitting in the doctor's mess reading the tabloid and waiting for the clock to turn 5 so I could run off to the sea. Rami came up to me and said" Hey Reets, Great to see you". We talked for a while while he rambled on as he did. The good thing about Rami was his old banger of a car. After hours, we all got in there and went off to the beach to watch the sea in the dark. Yes, we all sat there drinking Diet Coke and wondering what the hell we were doing watching the sea in the dark! Rami though was bohemian and pleasantly so. Rami was one of those boys who loved life and everything in it. Essentially, he didn't give a f*** about the world who criticised him, he simply loved adventure.
The Isle gave me back my lifeline. After the misery of Stoke on Trent, I discovered that there were finally normal people out there ie people who were not psychopaths. The consultant there was amazing. Actually, I adored him and he thought I was somewhat of a superwoman. Well, I was in those days because I got most things done in record time. I believed in completing the work and THEN going off and having some fun on top of a hill with Rami and his friends. Being young is a fine thing when you always believe the future is bright. The reference my consultant wrote is listed below. I like to keep these references because much is said about me [ usually all skewed] but DM probably got it just right. I know the GMC likes to tell the media a lot of things about me but I think we have to look more importantly at what a number of my bosses thought of me because we need yardsticks - proper yardsticks to measure ability by.
This is what he said
DM/PJS
To Whom It May Concern
This young lady carried out a two week locum with me in August 1999 as a SHO in xxxxxxxx. I remember that the time was very busy especially because of our coping with new house officers. I remember her as being very hardworking with a very pleasant manner with patients, their relatives, nursing and medical staff, She was very knowledgeable on the subject and conscientious in her work. I remember lively discussions about investigation and treatment on our ward rounds and she was always a very positive person. There was no problem with her written or verbal communication and her experience was adequate for the demands of the post. All the above and her personality would make me feel that she would have made a good Consultant Physician had she persisted with the speciality"
Yours Sincerely
DDM
Times were tough in 1999. Selly Oak Hospital Birmingham caused me so much misery that I thought it would be too miserable to write about it today. I will though one day after consuming a large quantity of chocolate!
For now though I felt it was important to talk about fixing up references. By 1999, I had my GMC Registration but no references. The problem with a distinct lack of references is also the lack of jobs. Now, superglue doesn't work during these circumstances so you have to use your imagination and some duck tape. As usual, I was out of money. Money is always one of those things that drives you to do something about the circumstances you find yourself in. A locum agency had used some of my past references and offered me a job in the Isle of Wight. So, off I went, Renault Clio with tons of CDs, plus chocolate. The worst part was the fact I discovered I suffered from sea sickness on the ferry. It may have had something to do with the Maltesers I had scoffed in the car!
The job in the Isle of Wight was great. I did though discover how badly nursing homes treated their elderly folk. I also discovered the arrogance of indian doctors who didn't know the system but were too arrogant to learn about it. I recall one being repeatedly told by the consultant to check the patients blood sugars. He didn't. By nightfall, the patient was in ITU. That was something that could have been avoided had he taken just that little more care.
At the Isle of Wight, I was given a PRHO [Pre-Registration House Officer] to take care of. Much like me, she had her life made miserable by Southampton University. I forget her name but I gave her something that she thanked me for - that was the confidence to believe in herself. We worked well together - and over the two weeks she blossomed from a dithering doctor to someone who knew her stuff and was confident in her abilities. She told me that on the day I left.
I disliked what Southampton had done to her. She was typical of many junior doctors who fell under the pressure of victimisation. I suspect unlike me they did not have the attitude of " there is always chocolate".
The good thing about the Isle of Wight was that I ran into my friend at medical school Rami. Rami being the rebel he was had a skirmish with St Georges Hospital London, and had fought his way out of it. He had long hair, was an Egyptian and knew how to kick some ass. Rami I believe became a psychiatrist somewhere when he grew up.
I have fond memories of Rami who revised with me at medical school finals and whined away about how his long hair just didn't fit with the rest of the boring medics. Rami and I finally ran into each other again in the Isle of Wight. I was sitting in the doctor's mess reading the tabloid and waiting for the clock to turn 5 so I could run off to the sea. Rami came up to me and said" Hey Reets, Great to see you". We talked for a while while he rambled on as he did. The good thing about Rami was his old banger of a car. After hours, we all got in there and went off to the beach to watch the sea in the dark. Yes, we all sat there drinking Diet Coke and wondering what the hell we were doing watching the sea in the dark! Rami though was bohemian and pleasantly so. Rami was one of those boys who loved life and everything in it. Essentially, he didn't give a f*** about the world who criticised him, he simply loved adventure.
The Isle gave me back my lifeline. After the misery of Stoke on Trent, I discovered that there were finally normal people out there ie people who were not psychopaths. The consultant there was amazing. Actually, I adored him and he thought I was somewhat of a superwoman. Well, I was in those days because I got most things done in record time. I believed in completing the work and THEN going off and having some fun on top of a hill with Rami and his friends. Being young is a fine thing when you always believe the future is bright. The reference my consultant wrote is listed below. I like to keep these references because much is said about me [ usually all skewed] but DM probably got it just right. I know the GMC likes to tell the media a lot of things about me but I think we have to look more importantly at what a number of my bosses thought of me because we need yardsticks - proper yardsticks to measure ability by.
This is what he said
DM/PJS
To Whom It May Concern
This young lady carried out a two week locum with me in August 1999 as a SHO in xxxxxxxx. I remember that the time was very busy especially because of our coping with new house officers. I remember her as being very hardworking with a very pleasant manner with patients, their relatives, nursing and medical staff, She was very knowledgeable on the subject and conscientious in her work. I remember lively discussions about investigation and treatment on our ward rounds and she was always a very positive person. There was no problem with her written or verbal communication and her experience was adequate for the demands of the post. All the above and her personality would make me feel that she would have made a good Consultant Physician had she persisted with the speciality"
Yours Sincerely
DDM
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