Facing the Change

You cannot have read UK health media in the last few months and not have become aware of the major NHS reforms proposed by the current (I can't really call them 'new' anymore) government.

There are plenty of rumours and strong opinions flying around. Although when I attended a recent BMA (British Medical Association) Q&A meeting I was surprised to find that most people (including GPs and event the BMA chief himself) were still somewhat unsure about what exactly the reforms will mean for day-to-day practice.

I asked the doctors present if they felt ready for their proposed commissioning/management role and the answer was almost unanymously 'No'. The BMA chief conceded that some form of extra training would be required, although to provide it before the health bill is passed would appear as admitting defeat so the BMA and other organisations are dragging their feet.

What does this mean for students? Another year of med school to do an MBA perhaps?
What does this mean for older GPs? Do they have to re-learn how to do their job?

Even those who are 100% opposed to the changes admit it is likely the bill will be passed in some form. The BMA has a special representative's meeting on March 15 (mini-medic will be there!) to debate and propose specific changes to the bill. You can also campaign directly to your MP with their lobbying toolkit.

Whether the government will listen..... well that's another question!

Next stop: GP Land

I found out this week that my first 2 month placement will be in a (hopefully local) GP practice. Hopefully a gentle easing-in to clinical medicine.

After that it's back to the wards for 2 general medicine blocks.

Anyone who knows how clumsy I can be will be pleased to know it's almost a year til I get my hands on a scalpel!

Exciting times

Well, I finally made it. After all the lectures and exams I am finally getting out there in a clinical setting. This medicine s**t just got real!

I've had a great 2 weeks so far, firstly with community children's services and then on a hospital renal ward this week.
A few highs and lows from clinical phase so far.

Highs 

• Visiting infant school for the day and meeting a charming little boy with transverse myelitis who will likely be in a wheelchair for the rest of hid days but won't let that stop him making his own way in the world.
• Getting real extended contact with patients so I am a friendly face they can recognise and have a chat with and not just a student who came and poked and prodded them once. 
• Invaluable experience from first hand consultant teaching. Being praised by the consultant for my knowledge of the patient histories after he'd just yelled at all his registrars. (Granted I'd had a lot more time on my hands than they had)
• Wandering around the hospital in scrubs with a stethoscope in and feeling like I belong there (shallow I know- but we're all allowed those little pleasures in life!)

Lows

• Starting work at 7am - the tea hasn't kicked in by that time!
• A 4 hour talk from a clinical physchologist on children dying. Heavy, yes. Useful, yes. but by the third hour we had had more than enough information and were just being needlessly depressed
• Being yelled at by an irate frenchman when the busy nurse who he had assumed was his personal translator could not be found!

I wouldn't change it for the world. If the first 2 weeks were anything to go by, the next 2 years are going to be fun!