Not really – its just another old scheduling email. Interesting on rereading, though, especially as I clearly haven’t learnt my lesson about slow circulation times with abnormal heart rhythms, if my case last Thursday is anything to go by.
From: Kirsty Jordan
Sent: Friday, 12 June 2015 12:59 p.m.
To: Wellington Anaesthesia All Staff
Subject: weekly newsletter – week one
So, there I was, making my way home after an early finish at my alternative place of employment when I thought I would pop into my local salon de coiffure for some professional advice on my wayward curls (frizz). There were three parks right out front. A bulky SUV was parked in the most forward space, and a little car pulled up just ahead of me into the near space, leaving a gap in between. I began my expert parallel parking manoeuvre by reversing into the spot. I could see in the windows of the shops beside me that it was going to be a bit snug, and by this time there was a bus coming up beside me. I was just considering whether to bail when the car behind me obligingly moved back a little to make way for me, and gave a little toot. I parked, got out, and went into the hairdressers. The next thing I know, a very angry little old lady burst into the shop and started haranguing me. She was the driver of the car behind mine. She told me it was the worst thing she had seen in her whole life. I couldn’t believe it! It wasn’t even the worst thing I’d seen all day (for the record, my cardioversion + TOE patient desaturating down to 92% after a generous but somewhat injudicious sedation rendered him apnoeic. Note to self: A.Fib = slow circulation time). I thanked her for reversing and making room for me, said I’d always been able to see her car, and that there were three parking spaces there. She left with a harrumph, and I continued my consultation. However, when I walked out of the shop, clutching my bag of (eye-wateringly expensive) products, there she was again, pointing triumphantly at the gap between our cars. I was very taken aback by now, and thought it prudent to leave with alacrity. She and her beady eyed friend then watched me as I extricated myself from the park with no more than my usual difficulty (resisting the temptation to reverse with my foot on the floor). Zarrebi! (As we say in France). So, if you are told by an elderly relative or friend of their run in with an elegant young motorist this week, just remember there are two sides to every story. (Wondering now if this is the same lady I followed slowly to Newtown the other week…how many of them can there be??)
OK, well, by now our new RMOs will be wondering what surreal newsletter they have inadvertently signed up for. Rest assured, it’s totes legitimate. Chris J and I are your friendly schedulers, and you can ask us for scheduling advice any hour of the day or night – although often the DA is your best bet, except when you really need to talk to your supervisors of training, or relevant module supervisor, or possibly the HOD or his 2IC, and often Cindy is a fount of wisdom. But us next, that’s for sure. Chris and I put out a schedule every Friday, with often a provisional schedule earlier in the week, and sometimes followed up with various updates and modifications as required. There is an accompanying newsletter of varying degrees of relevance which is entirely ignorable.
Anyway, I hope you are enjoying Wellington. The week just gone by is probably a fairly typical one for the Capital. The horizontal zephyrometer and errant shipping containers reminds us that the phrase “Windy Wellington” comes from our abundant supply of fresh air. Livestock roaming the streets, like Wednesday’s unfortunate horse, are an occasional occurrence, although this can be entertaining if they have escaped from the zoo. I think we can congratulate ourselves, though, that in the hospital we have a much better record than the council with a code brown – I can’t believe it took them 45 minutes to clean up after the “turd in the tunnel” incident (I sense another disbelieving international headline there).
There are a couple of part 2 courses on this coming week, which explains the shortage of senior regs. The addition of four locums makes us a rather top heavy department: they are all familiar faces: welcome back to you all and thanks for coming. The other theme of the week is the number of extra cases in radiology. We are getting more and more requests to help with various cases down there, and this in addition to the trial acute interventional stroke service (more info to follow from Derek) means that we are all going to have to get used to long hours buried in the basement covered in lead.
Wednesday
Two consultants in trauma this morning, as on Tuesday – not because I’m expecting anything tricky but just because that’s who I have around.
David P by special request in OT 8 with Mr D. Hoping blood bank have been given a heads up.
Douglas back in radiology – this time a CT microwave ablation of some unspecified organ/tissue/mass/other.
Challenging case for Derek out at Kene – Graham S rostered out there with him to provide the necessary muscle. More info coming your way this weekend from Debbie B, team. It’s her belief the patient won’t make it to theatre, so maybe you should bring a book.
Thursday
1 ½ ortho theatres at Kene today. Peter S “available” in the morning: I suggest a recuperative sleep-in before heading North to see if the afternoon list can start early, Peter.
Friday
Lots of paeds scattered amongst various theatres today; a Herculean effort of scheduling required from yours truly to make it work (which hopefully it will on the day).
Well, that’s it for me. Perhaps fortunately, I’ve run out of time to talk about the cricket.
Best Wishes, stay well,
Kirsty.