Logging off (for now)

I've said it before, but BT are the most incompetent, annoying organisation on Earth. I'm typing this post from an internet cafe because BT are once again "experiencing problems with the local network" meaning that, once again I have no phone line or internet access. Grrrrrr...

They say it will take "eight to ten working days" for them to fix their problem, but frankly, I don't believe them.

The upshot of this is that I'll be offline until they sort it out. Hopefully, I'll be back sooner rather than later, but don't hold your breath.

Assumptions

Theatre Assisstant: You know what annoys really annoys me? That you have to go to a GP to get antibiotics.

Me: (raised eyebrow)

TA: I mean you have to take time off work and go get yourself a GP appointment to get antibiotics. I reckon that they should just sell them over the counter.

Me: (raised eyebrow ever further)

TA: You should just be able to go and buy your own antibiotics without having to go and see a doctor. It would be much easier that way.

Me: And then EVERYONE would have MRSA and C. Diff.

TA: Oh... Good point. I never thought of that. It's still annoying though

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There are some things that I (wrongly) assume that everyone knows, like why antibiotics need a prescription. I was genuinely surprised to hear these words coming from this TA's mouth and it really brought home to me that assuming things about other people or situations can lead you astray.

This post is not having a go at the TA, after all she is not medically trained and there's no reason to assume she knows more about antibiotics and infections that a lay person. It's just that more and more, I'm realising that what I assume other people know about health and the human body is often far from what they actually do know.

Updating the BlogRoll

It’s that time of the year when daffodils and croci have started to make an appearance. Spring is just around the corner and I thought it would be a good time to tidy up my BlogRoll.

Out with the old:

There have been a few blogs that I thought were great but their authors, for their own various reasons have decided to stop. So, it’s goodbye to The Lowly Worm the FY1 who burned bright, burned fast but sadly burned out after only a few weeks. Goodbye also to Hospital Phoenix, JD, The Angry Medic and to Michelle Tempest who’s blogs were witty and thought provoking but have all sadly come to end.

In with the new:

I’m going to welcome with open arms Dr Jest’s CaseBlog, Dr Rant and The Little Medic as these are all blogs I’ve found myself reading avidly over the last few weeks. I’m realising more and more that surgeons are a strange bunch, The Surgeon’s Blog is well written, if a little grim at times, and it’s also the first overseas blog on the roll. We blog cartoons is great for a bit of daily light relief and I’ve also adding the GapingVoid cards to the right side of the page because they usually make me smile. I’m really enjoying Todger Talk too, it’s blokes talking frankly about sex without the bull.

Old favourites:

Mr Angry, Mousie, Dr Crippen, Mr Chalk, Cal, Tom, Abby, Surly, David, Salvadore and The Ferret are still all going strong. If you’ve not read their blogs already, then you really are missing out.

And finally:

As a junior doctor, I’m feeling a bit all alone in the big wide blogging world. If any of you know of a good blog about being a junior doctor, please let me know!

Who are you to judge?

So, according to one of our politicians, nurses are promiscuous and have dubious moral standings eh?

I think some people in privileged positions are really better of keeping their traps shut.

Saturday Night's alright for fighting

There are a few irrefutable truths of the modern world that we live in:

1. Prices will rise.
2. Politicians will lie.
3. If I work on a Sunday, I will be asked to anaesthetise a man in his twenties so the surgeons can fix his broken jaw.