Friday, 7 April 2023

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



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