Time goes by

So quickly, I only just started the VTS and now it's the end of it. Summative Assessment and MRCGP are done and dusted and I am out in the real world, flying solo, no safety net, £4,500 defence fees. It's all good.

It's been a while

I've been away you see, 7000 miles away in Buenos Aires enjoying the summer weather, steaks and red wines. I know, apparently the weather was good here too while I was away, and it was only snowing on the day that I left 30 degree sunshine when we got back to terminal 4, Heathrow. It's a great country that is going through some difficulty at the moment and has been for a few years now. That's bad for the portenos, but good for the touristas because the pounds buys six shiny pesos, and you can eat and drink well for 20 to 30 a pop.
Anyway, back in the UK and back to work. What's up with the MMC shit? Everyone who's out of that system is a lucky bugger, anyone who's in and it's a lucky dip as to what job you get and where. This is gonna mean an exodus, but it's a good job all the Eastern European states are in the EU now, it means that the UK can undercut it's own graduates with those who are willing to work for less and send their money out of the UK. It leaves their own countries short of docs, but you can't blame someone for doing the best for themselves and their family that they can. If it was me, I'd do the same.

The newbie

It's started and it's good. My new GP job that is. The first day, last Wednesday, was not so good because it was filled by the Summative Assessment MCQ, nice one to start us off. All a bit random, but I guess that is the nature of GP, never know what will come through the door next.

Thursday was my first proper day at the surgery. It is great. Nice and friendly but a lot to take in in the first few days, learning the computer system (I haven't crashed it yet) and everyones names, and how to drink so much coffee and tea. I was in at the deep end a bit going on a visit on my first day by myself, but it was fine. Prescribed some antibiotics and was called on Friday by the patient because they had the shits, cause and effect...

I was a bit worried that I would miss the hustle and bustle of hospital medicine, but so far I think that I have made the right choice, and it's fun.

I read the news today, oh boy...

Another GP bashing in the Daily Mail. The DOH are trying to claw back the money that they have given to GPs in the new contract, they want to cap it. I hear MPs want a pay rise to bring their basic salary in line with that of a GP, but they get as much again in their expenses, so they already earn enough. I suppose they are providing some kind of 'public service' by taking our taxes and wasting them on war. I don't know many other businesses where there are caps on salaries, do they do this in the city? (they might do, I don't know). And why should we work out of the hours of 8 to 6? There is OOH cover in place, so there is no responsibility to open for longer hours. Hospital doctors work those hours. If you are ill enough to need the doctor maybe you can take some time off work to go. I wouldn't mind working until 8 one day or so a week though. Anyhow, the government are ensuring this will happen by taking money away if it doesn't. It is annoying that GPs are persistently painted in a money-grabbing & lazy light when this is plainly not true in almost all cases. Enough politics.

Wanted: more blood for The Machine

I have just finished my last night shift for a year, the last one that I'll ever have to do. It feels good, but the euphoria is blunted a little. One of the hospitals around here was in the news, I think that it was more for the nurses than the doctors, they want staff to take 6 months unpaid annual leave and to work just one extra day on a voluntary basis with no pay. I found it difficult to believe. Let a few of the middle managers go and that would make up the shortfall. I would like to know how many shifts I have already worked for free in the extra half hour here and there when there are sickies on the wards. They don't have any f**king idea do they?

I'm glad that I'm finishing hospital medicine, and I've only been in it for 4 years. I think I can do more to help people in general practice than battle The Machine.

BA cabin crew have got the right idea but I hope they're not on strike on the 24 Feb.

Daysleeper

I always think of that REM song when I'm on nights, dream of circadian rhythm...

I don't know what's up with the date on the previous post, it was supposed to be last week sometime. Today it's just turned 23rd of Jan, so I just finished my last weekend in hospital medicine and now I'm on a set of 4 nights. Isn't that a nice bit of rota to end this job on? It's my fault in fact, I was meant to do the weekend before but I swapped to go on holiday.

Now I'm beginning to think I'll miss the excitement and social life of hospital medicine. But I won't miss being here at 2am waiting for patients to arrive from A+E. Why did I ever doubt I would enjoy GP?

How we operate

The time is near, I thought it would never come, tomorrow I will start my last weekend working in hospital. The week after, I will do my 4 last nights in hospital. After this, I will not have to check if I am on call when someone invites me somewhere in the evening or at the weekend, there will be no more checking the rota, there will be no rota.

No rota.

This leaves me with a feeling of freedom, and regret (surpirisingly). What is out there outside the protective walls of the hospital, beyond the neon light of the ward and the reassuring registrar on call? I'm soon to find out and the grass might not be greener, but whatever, it'll be fine, I don't have to check the rota. No more swaps to make a holiday of any decent length, and no more paying for it when I get back with weeks and weeks of oncall. I can't wait to go to BsAs in February for 3 weeks, bring it on. But, everyone else in the NHS has also reached this conclusion and soon the GP jobs will be saturated, and what will I do then?