Widening Access - Not Gonna Happen

So the government has passed its fees rise. I know it won't effect me but that's not the point. I know that should I qualify as a doctor I'll probably pay my loan back quicker than others.

My problem is that the rise in tuition fees will discourage a considerable number of students who have the potential to be great doctors from applying in the first place due to the increased cost. The British Medical Association estimates only around 4% of medical students come from working class backgrounds. The BMA wanted to see this percentage rise, but it is likely to decrease now.

Some friends of mine have rightly pointed out that the government wants to have more bursaries and grants for working class students at university. But there are further cuts that may discourage them from going to college in the first place to get the required grades.

Many people who want to go to medical school come from families which can support themselves, but they fall outside the range for additional support. These people will be hit hard too.

The responsibility for encouraging working class students to apply for medicine will now be with the schools and colleges. They need to tell people what options are available to them, they can't fall back into the attitude of only those with the grades and the money can go to medical school. They need to ensure that medicine is not seen as an elitist degree.

Now is the time for medical students, medical school academics, and sixth form staff to work together to ensure we still increase that 4%

Essay writing

It's the night before hand-in and, as usual, I'm still chugging away working through my essay. Unlike in past all-nighters there is a high probability that I will have to get up tomorrow morning, and also unlike previous essays, I know exactly what I want to write but I have no idea how to write it. The motivation comes and goes in waves and at the moment I feel myself on the downwards side of one of those waves, I just can't think of the words I need to describe what I am thinking - logical reasoning is failing me at the time when I really, truly need it.

Where's the coffee?

Tuition Fees

I'm not going to get sucked in to blogging about all the student fee hikes (yet) but I am definitely not in support of the raises.

And whilst I was all in favour of the student protests, I was pissed off to hear that students from the sixthform here in Truro thought it would be a good idea to march down the centre of the main road from the college into the city centre. This is also the main road from most of Cornwall to the MAIN hospital for the county.

I pity the paramedics who may have been fighting to save someone only to find a bunch of 16-18 year olds were adding a massive amount of time to a time-critical journey.

Rugby

In the radiology meeting they bought up the Xray. An osteosarcoma at the top of the tibia measuring 10cm x 5cm.
The patient is 14. He's an active rugby player who had a pain just below his knee. He thought it was just a rugby injury.

Sometimes life is a real bastard.

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Relaxation

I'm glad I live where I do, it's ridiculously close to the countryside so I was able to get out for a walk after being up the hospital.

This last week and a half has been a little bit trying so it was nice to get out and unwind.

Inappropriate songs

I've been watching 'Have I Got News For You' on TV and they asked which song is used for CPR?

They teach us to use Nelly the Elephant in our head, but there are a couple of other songs which have the required timing for CPR. The timing that is needed is 100 beats per minute, unfortunately this is also the timing for 'Staying Alive' by the Bee-Gees and 'Another One Bites the Dust' by Queen.

Not really what you want the person you're working on to hear as you try to revive them.

I think I'll stick to Nelly the Elephant, it also keeps you in a positive frame of mind.

Little Black Book

I've started using a book to make notes about things I need to remember at all times. This is something I should have done a long time ago, especially given my exam scores.

The good thing about conferences...

...is all the free crap you get from event sponsors. I've just got back from a trauma conference and got:
3 pens;
A pen torch;
2 lanyards;
One of those weird secure cable things that you clip on your belt;
2 mini alcohol gels;
A tote bag;
A book mark;
2 product catalogues;
A mini book on altitude;

A carabiner on a strap;
And.......a stress ball from the royal college of surgeons of Edinburgh.

Good times!

Oh and the conference was really good too & might be the subject of another post.

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I'm sorry, that goes where?!?!?!?

I've just been doing some reflective work - where we write about what we have seen and experienced on placements.

And I remembered one day in surgery.

There is a piece of equipment which is used to quite literally stretch the colon. It's purpose is to check that no damage has been caused during intra-abdominal surgery.

This doesn't sound too bad until you see it and the end is the size of a satsuma/well-rounded plum.

10%

About a month ago, I started 'harassing' the Dean of my medical school to look at addressing our environmental credentials, with the suggestion of signing up with the 10:10 project and the Climate & Health Council.

The initial replies I got from the upper echelons included "It's not my remit, speak with the Dean." and "I don't think we should make promises we can't keep." (a very wise comment)

But then I had a reply from one of the clinical lecturing staff, he pointed out that one of our affiliated universities had achieved a 10% reduction in carbon emissions we relative ease and had saved a lot of money to boot - bargain! So I had a member of staff in my corner - double bargain!

Then, out of the blue the other day, I received an email from a professor involved with climate change and health (well, actually from his PA) research at the medical school. It turns out the Dean has handed this over to him to address and mull over, and he's sent me an invite to meet with him to discuss what could be done!!!

I'll update this when I know more

Paediatric Oncology

Today is Children in Need here in the UK. For the past week and all of next week I'm on the paeditatric oncology unit (children with cancer/cancer-like conditions). This unit is part funded by the charity CLIC Sargent, as are some of the staff who work with the kids I've been meeting.

The staff include two outreach nurses. These women work bloody hard traveling to the homes of these kids to provide treatment for them in their own home, this saves the parents time and money by saving them a journey into the hospital.

It also includes a social worker, who has the job of helping these families come to terms with what has happened and to provide support for them during this difficult time. The social worker isn't employed by the council or the government, so they don't have targets or protocols that would hinder the care they can provide (although many of the protocols are for the benefit of those that are being cared for - always a good thing!).

What bothers me is that the social worker is entirely funded by charity. The outreach nurses have half their salary paid for by charity. A rest home in Bristol for the families of the children is run by charity.

The list goes on and on; and not just in the paediatric oncology unit but right across paediatrics. And the reason............... it's not deemed necessary by the NHS.

So, like I said, tonight is Children in Need. If you happen to be watching, and you see some of the children who are fighting neuroblastomas and leukaemia, don't think "Hmmm that's sad, but there's loads of people giving money, I'll leave it." or "It's all a big con anyway." just spare a thought for all the children and their families who benefit daily from the help of charities. Think about how much stress they are under, the fear that their child could be snatched away at any moment. Then think about what these charities do.

And lastly, don't just think about digging into your wallet and donating..... do it.