Do we hear anything further about Cory Jane? Read on and see…
(NB. I have no idea if anyone is interested in knowing about our allocations of people in the anaesthetic department. I’ve kept those notes in where it conceivably might amuse. Happy to be told not to bother if its just tedious uninteresting detail.)
From: Kirsty Jordan
Sent: Friday, 8 August 2014 1:09 PM
To: Wellington Anaesthesia All Staff
Subject: next weeks schedule – a week one ( i.e. my week to schedule – nothing to do with Chris )
Hi All,
As the sunburn and coral rash fades, so are the memories of my recent holiday. I read somewhere that it only takes a week for the beneficial effects of a holiday to vanish. Interestingly, a surgeon said to me the other day that it takes him about a week after a holiday to get back into the swing of clinical work. There’s probably a profound truth in there somewhere.
I also discovered last week that my cousins daughter Whitney has recently been recruited to the central pulse netball team. When I emailed our dept netball team, suggesting that possibly there’s some proof of netball skills being a heritable trait, they all thought it was the most hilarious thing they’d ever heard. Not sure how to take that. She’s also Sarah S’s cousins daughter ( we’re all related down here ) and you must agree that Sarah has a much more netballesque physique than myself.
Apart from all the usual sickness and other various staff depletions, there are some bright spots in the coming week. We welcome back the P man on Tuesday to an all day preassessment clinic. We don’t want to discourage this Lazarus like revival so it’s only one day a week of preassessment at this early stage. Also some unscheduled OPD time here and there, so you may see him hobbling around the dept in the coming weeks. Not fully weight bearing so not really much use to the DA as yet. Also, we welcome LS, a JAFA post part 2 registrar who has come to do a senior registrar position in simulation. She will be 2 ½ ish days clinical per week. Chris has her working her very first weekend, I’m not sure if this is the old “treat them mean, keep them keen” ploy, or otherwise that old chestnut “start as you mean to go on“.
On the other hand, we farewell Clare S, who is off to the bright lights of the Tron and the bosom of her family with the advent of her latest family addition. Best wishes for the future, Clare. I’m only grateful I don’t have to remember which way to spell Cla(i)re any more. Also leaving us for pastures new is Allannah, who had her last clinical day yesterday – as DA, by her own request. Which just goes to show what a rare and special person she is. Currently she is in the meeting room next door to our office, torturing part 1 candidates with a mock exam. Allannah is going to be a proper surgeon’s wife for the next few months – a lady who lunches. Don’t be too envious, though – remember, the grass isn’t always greener. Not enough rainfall, for one. The good news is I have met the new cardiac locum, and she seems lovely, even though she is Australian and a bit short ( maybe she could borrow the platform gumboots I saw one of the ortho regs wearing the other day? ).
Monday
V working today in exchange for tomorrow. She was very disappointed to discover the 210kg patient on the ENT list had been cancelled ( she really was!). Hoping whoever ends up doing him in the next few weeks will be as enthusiastic.
No vascular so B slumming it in OT 5. She’s wondering what she’s going to do with herself on Sunday evening with no patients to see.
Overstaffed in dental this morning. D and A can arm wrestle over who needs OPD payback more.
Tuesday
Shortage of cardiac anaesthetists means both B and CH have to give up their favourite lists to do cardiac. Luckily their usual surgeons are away, so it’s not as bad as it sounds. Both cardiac regs on nights which gives a chance for some new people to get their hands dirty. I’m sure that’s not the right metaphor, but you know what I mean.
Two EVARs on the vascular list which means T will finally complete his VOP requirements. That’s a load off my mind.
Lots of senior regs on their own today, finally allowed to do what they like without consultant interference.
Welcome back Dr P! Now come and sit in a darkened room in the basement for the day.
Wednesday
Due to absences, some anaesthetists find themselves in unfamiliar theatres today. Hope all goes well.
Nothing unfamiliar in OT 8 for D, back with Mr D by special request for one of his raft of haematologically challenging patients.
M clinical all day, I have promised payback of her OPD in a fortnight when I’m even shorter of staff. Chris tells me this is called “robbing Peter to pay Paul”. Sounds like a perfectly sensible strategy to me.
When the ortho list at Kene today was cancelled a couple of weeks ago, I foolishly agreed to an all day extra preassessment clinic. When I told everyone at production planning last week that I couldn’t staff the pm after all, there was mayhem and rioting in the streets, hand wringing, urgent phone calls, and other signs of despair. I want to say I’ve learned my lesson i.e. not to agree to extra clinics ever in any circumstances – but I see D is doing one at Kene on Friday. Never mind. R is the sacrificial lamb this morning.
A cornucopia of teaching today – no less than four separate opportunities for our RMOs to get out of clinical duties.
In the morning Oz is teaching the SHOs. In the afternoon, DM ( bloodied but unbowed, hopefully ) and RD take SIM teaching; PY from ICU takes near part 2 exam teaching; and CM is running the first part of one of his reknowned bronchoscopy courses. The latter doesn’t start until 2pm so maybe you could give someone a lunch break before you go? We don’t want any of our staff to be forced to eat or drink covertly in the prep rooms.
Friday
Lots of paeds around: luckily for me, paeds anaesthetists are thick on the ground today ( again, this could be an unfortunate choice of metaphor ).
And as a reward for everyone’s hard work, for those able to be bought, there is an MSD drug lunch on in the anaesthetic dept. Not sure what the product is.
Apologies, this is a really long and rambling email, and possibly a record breaker. Thanks for staying the distance.