DAY 2448-2534

May 16 - Aug 10

1) Where to even begin? In the span of three months, so much has changed. For one, I have completed my third and final rotation, Emergency Medicine (ED) This was definitely the rotation with the most variation in terms of cases seen. Polytrauma patients air-flown via helicopter, pregnant patients with uncontrolled bleeding and hypertension, paedatric patients whose parents watched me like a hawk as I tried to examine them, patients who were convinced that insects had crawled into their ear and infiltrated their brain, young IV drug users seeking cannulas so they could disappear for a convenient cigarette and a much-needed "quick fix", and elderly patients with broken hips or brain bleeds, who were unable to tell me anything about what brought them to hospital. I've encountered all of the above, made many mistakes along the way, and also learnt a bit about managing these scenarios. I've learnt some really interesting stuff, including fascia iliaca blocks (a nerve injection to provide adequate pain relief in patients with neck of femur fractures), ring blocks (a nerve injection for finger wounds and / or fractures), haematoma blocks (injecting local anaesthetic before manual reduction of distal radius fractures), suturing techniques, applying thumb splints, and how to use the slit lamp for eye examination, among others.

2) Of course, with the end of my ED rotation also comes the end of my journey as a Foundation Year 1 doctor. Long story short, I have passed my final Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) with an Outcome 1 - Satisfactory Progress. This means that I am now officially a Foundation Year 2 doctor, and with that I have also obtained full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC). Finally, the ability to prescribe FP10s and to declare patients medically fit for discharge, along with all the duties and responsibilities that come with being a Senior House Officer (SHO). I'm not sure I'm actually ready for any of this yet. What I am ready for is my first rotation as an F2 doctor, which is going to be in rheumatology at Haywood Hospital. As I am on the academic programme, I'll only be in clinics two days a week, with the remaining three days for academic research.

3) As if moving jobs and hospitals is not challenging enough, I am also moving - literally. The contract with my landlady ends in August, and I have decided to move closer to the hospital. In addition to being closer to Newcastle-under-Lyme, I will only need to take one bus to get to Haywood. One of the biggest challenges for me so far has been packing up all the stuff I've hoarded over the past year. Thankfully, I am mostly done with that, and can look forward to starting my new job in rheumatology. I am sure it will be quite a bit different sitting in a clinic accepting referrals compared to my previous job in emergency medicine, but as always, I am open to learning new things. After rheumatology, I will look forward to a rotation in general practice (GP land as it is sometimes called) followed by geriatric medicine. That would sum up the rest of my F2 year. 

4) And this sums up my blog post today. I am really happy to have lasted this long in medicine so far, and I'm looking forward to all the ups and downs that the road ahead has in store for me. Thanks very much as always for tuning in, and I wish you all a good week ahead. Take care and stay safe, cheers!

First day as a Foundation Year 2 Doctor

(Also my first day in Rheumatology at Haywood Hospital)

Associate Membership of the Academy of Medical Educators

All aboard the free shuttle from the Royal Stoke to County Hospital

Mandatory Clinical Skills Course for F1 doctors

Re-familiarising myself with equipment used in emergency crash calls

Slow walk back home after a long day shift

Event today at the Double Tree Hilton

Presentation by yours truly, on introducing a neurosurgical unit day case service

Learning how to apply a thumb splint in ED

Beautiful scenery out of the hospital cafeteria window

Back at it with the blood and blood culture bottles and forms

A double rainbow after a brief spell of rain

Main entrance to County Hospital

County Hospital has some really good breakfast options for a reasonable price

Fish and chips with all fixings - a Friday staple at the Royal Stoke cafeteria

Haywood Hospital first day :)

My own trust laptop and dictaphone :)

Beautiful bus terminal

My last day as F1 doctor

Handing in my ID badge...

My new ID badge

DAY 2410-2447

Apr 8 - May 15

1) They say spring is the time for sudden rain showers, blossoming trees and flowering plants. That certainly tallies with my experience here in Stoke. These past few weeks, as I was walking to and from work, I have noticed this change - the dramatic rise in temperature, flowers blooming in colourful splendour, and even the sudden but brief downpours.

2) Against this backdrop, a lot of events were unfolding in my personal life, including my grandpa's passing. I was in County Hospital that day, attending the one-day Advanced Life Support (ALS) course. While I was prepared mentally for the practical skills assessment, I had completely overlooked the fact that there would be a must-pass 120-question objective exam on the same day. After toiling through multiple practice scenarios, I managed a "pass" for the Cardiac Arrest Simulations Test (CASTest). With  just minutes to go before I was due to sit the objective paper, I received news that my grandpa had passed on. 

3) Going into the exam hall, I had to mentally block out any intrusive thoughts and focus only on the paper itself. Towards the end, my mind was already preparing for the inevitable eventuality of failing this paper and having to return for the repeat. Or so I thought. After the exam, we were provided with dinner while the papers were marked. Then we were individually called by the examiners who delivered our results. Against all my expectations, I received a congratulations rather than commiserations - I had passed both parts of the course and was therefore deemed a "competent" ALS provider. 

4) My friend MJ was really kind and offered to give me a ride back, saving me the hassle of waiting for a shuttle back. To be honest, I cannot recall much of the conversation we had - I was just so overwhelmed with emotion. I remember closing the room door and just crying my lungs out, before sleeping the night away. Reflecting on this here in my blog has certainly helped, as have all the heartfelt messages from family and friends alike - I really do appreciate it!

5) Tomorrow I will be heading down to London for three days. More updates to follow in the next edition of my blog. Until then, thanks very much for visiting as always, and have a great week ahead. Cheers! 

Spring is well and truly here

Yes they had to get my surname wrong as well

Breakfast is served

I really enjoy the lush nature at County

Lunch with a serving (or two) of coffee

Dinner while awaiting our test results

Advanced Life Support results - valid for 4 years

DAY 2398-2409

Mar 27 - Apr 7

1) And just like that - I'm back in the UK, and have completed my second rotation as a Foundation Year 1 Doctor. Trauma & Orthopaedics has been interesting to say the least, as it was a medical job in a surgical ward. Essentially, we would provide ward cover (i.e. sort out mostly medical problems) before and after patients underwent surgery. This rotation gave me the opportunity to finally scrub in and assist in theatres, as well as exposure to patients lists and consultants lists. In addition, I learnt about wound care and management, especially in the context of oozing wounds and wound dehiscence. Finally, I learnt how to handle the nerve centre device - basically an old iPhone which lists important jobs e.g. patient review, drug prescribing etc. Overall, it has been a busy but rewarding experience, and I made friends with many of the staff on the different wards - all of whom I will miss as I rotate into emergency medicine.

2) Yesterday, we had our induction for my third and final rotation as an FY1 Doctor - Emergency Medicine. This promises to be yet another busy rotation, but a very interesting one at that. The hospital is a Level 1 Major Trauma Centre, and serves a population of nearly three million people within the North West Midlands and North Wales Trauma Network, supporting five trauma units and three local emergency hospitals. Patients arrive by helicopter or land ambulance and are greeted by a consultant-led trauma team, that includes a consultant in emergency medicine, who works with specialists in orthopaedic and general surgery. Suffice to say, it will be a busy rotation and I am looking forward to it.

3) Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting up with my good friend and fellow doctor Zi Yan - on one of my rare off-days. I used this as an opportunity to explore around Stoke-On-Trent, and we ended up visiting Trentham Gardens, the Potteries Museum, and Hanley. We talked about where our friends were currently working (mostly split between the UK and Malaysia), as well as his experience working in Malaysia. It was very interesting to hear the similarities and differences when working in a completely different healthcare system to the one we are used to back home. In the end, we had dinner at an outrageously crowded buffet spot in Hanley, before he left for the railway station, while I took a nice slow walk back.

4) That has been an update of my life experiences up until now, looking forward to starting the new rotation today, and wishing everyone a great week ahead. Thanks for visiting as always, cheers!

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery - surprisingly comprehensive and well-stocked

Introducing my friend to oatcakes!

Trentham Gardens - just before the light drizzle

Beautiful Trentham Lake

Sometimes a walk with nature is more than enough to destress

Staffordshire Oatcakes

Cheese and mushroom oatcakes

After a 35 minute bus ride - Trentham Gardens!

Scattered across the gardens were Trentham Fairies

Trentham Fairy Quest

I want to say that's a kingfisher, but I might be wrong...

That looks like a giant snake with googly eyes XD

Technically, this is what the gardens should look like

Nearly got lost in the maze below

Perseus and Medusa

Trentham Estate

A rather ominous picture with the giant tree in the middle and gloomy sky in the background

Stopping for lunch while planning out our next destination

Stop #2 - The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

If you zoom in, you'll find that I'm wearing a lapel pin of the same bird in the picture

That's a huge owl if you ask me XD

Replica of the famous bottle kilns of Stoke

The actual bottle kiln (one of the few remaining ones)

Interesting art spotted

The iconic Potteries Centre entrance

This is the queue to the buffet half an hour before opening time

16.99 GBP - you better believe we stuffed ourselves silly with food

Including a live teppanyaki cooking show

Very happy to see my country represented on an international buffet spread

The assortment of cakes was to die for

Beautiful chocolate fondue

My teppanyaki selection cooked to order

The largest grape I've ever seen

Beautiful spread of dessert

Sad to send him off - but we'll meet up sometime soon :)

Hanley Park Entrance

On the way back home

Practice makes perfect XD

Last day on T&O - will miss the banter!

Induction Day in emergency medicine - snacks!

Cupcakes for breakfast