Am on call this weekend, in the face of which my wittiness gland has dried up. In lieu of anything new, then, here is another old work email.
From: Kirsty Jordan
Sent: Wednesday, 24 December 2014 10:13 a.m.
To: Wellington Anaesthesia All Staff
Subject: Twas the night before Xmas ( well, nearly )
Hi All,
Did my last list of the year yesterday, very pleasant it was, too, although I’m grateful Mariah Carey only put out one Xmas album. Isn’t it funny what surgeons like ( us all to ) listen to while they operate? I have heard of anaesthetists who wait until their surgeon is scrubbed before changing the music to something they like better, but I don’t begrudge the surgeons their music. After all, they have to pay attention to what they’re doing the whole case, whereas I get to play on my giant new phone. Not that I’m not ready to spring into action at any time, but having now been liberated from the tyranny of drawing little seagulls wings all day ( thanks, Paul ), I can now spread my attention more judiciously.
Am very grateful to our dear leader for his latest Directors Cut, which has summarized the year nicely, so I don’t have to. My greatest achievement this year has been growing my fringe out ( because if you’re going to have hat hair anyway, it may as well be low maintenance).
This, the last schedule of the year, looks deceptively simple, but I can assure you it was anything but. It has undergone multiple revisions as a result of the successful drive from management to encourage us all to take leave over this quiet period. Which I applaud as a victory for commonsense, but has been somewhat challenging. Am hoping the email I received last night will be the last notification of leave I get. (Grinch? Me??).
The basic pattern this week is one cardiac, one ortho trauma, one neuro, and two acute theatres every day except the stats, to deal with all the various kinds of acute cases. This was very strictly adhered to except when it wasn’t, mostly on Tuesday. And, of course, pain and delivery suite will always be with us.
Monday
The acute theatres look overstaffed but the idea is that patients can be preassessed at your leisure without impairing case turnover ( it sounded good when Justine said it ).
The inevitable ECT, although less than in previous years, they tell me.
Tuesday
Electivish paeds on the ortho trauma list this morning.
Cathy’s list reinstated in OT 10 today, someone is having their larynx out for the New Year. Luckily Bob is around so we can keep the team together.
Unfortunately, this takes out one of our acute theatre nursing teams, leaving Paul D and the SHOs ( sounds like a 60’s band ) going it alone in OT 15.
Wednesday
Derek is DA ( sorry, everyone else is on leave… )
Bob is available all day. He’s on call for ICU tonight and was hoping for a quiet day lounging around ICU, but there isn’t the buffer of other people around today that I was expecting, sorry. Will is available in the afternoon, though.
Chris J is around all week for your urgent scheduling needs, but I am also available with my phone by my side in case anything comes up. Don’t hesitate to ring me rather than curse me in my absence.
Well, that’s it for me for the year. Thank you all for your patience, or possibly just long suffering stoicism.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.