A fairly boring one today, for the completionists amongst you only.From: Kirsty Jordan
Sent: Friday, 8 July 2016 1:38 PM
To: Wellington Anaesthesia All Staff
Subject: lonely
Got a text this morning from my scheduling buddy at 0900hrs (so, I’d already been at work 1 ½ hours) to say he was too busy scratching together some extra shekels at the Institute of Higher Earning down the road to come into work. So, have been all by myself today. As Sarah J said at the senior staff meeting yesterday, it’s awfully quiet down here when you’re doing your OPD time: surely we have plenty of room for the tide of ICU refugees when the time comes? (Ed’s note – we were going to get a bunch of ICU staff sharing our offices when they got renovated, wonder what happened to that plan?) I don’t know how Alan coped doing the schedule by himself for all those years. It’s a lonely business. Even we introverts (misanthropes) need a little human companionship. It was also tough turning up to production planning this morning, to see everyone’s faces fall when they saw I was by myself. Chris has raised expectations now, as he brings yummy treats (including, thoughtfully, gluten free for the lovely Ankh) every week. In my defense, I had been expecting Rachel H, the urology booking nurse (not sure exact title), to bring a farewell morning tea today (she has also been lured away to Private and the joys of working with Dilip by the temptation of filthy lucre) , but she never turned up. She has since apologized – something she ate at her farewell party at Bebemos last night, apparently – but too late to save production planning. She told me a while ago that these Friday meetings were the nadir of her week. I was taken aback – I quite enjoy them. Not sure what that says about the two of us? Oh well. At least when I’m by myself in the office I can listen to whatever I like – and I don’t have to be worried about possible antisocial repercussions from my lunch of four bean salad.
Next week is the start of the July school holidays. As reflects our different stages of life, this means hardly anything to most of our regs, but there are a large number of SMOs away. Not quite as many as I was originally led to believe, though, which explains the sadly shambolic and last minute nature of my schedule.
Monday
Matt is asterixed in OT 4, something delightful for him to look forward to over the weekend no doubt, although I can’t remember just now what the case is…
Ortho have taken over the morning in OT 5, and I have just heard that both the elective pm ortho lists have been abandoned in favour of all day trauma. They must be expecting trouble.
Tuesday
Katy has asked for some eye lists, so she’s going to get hammered in OT 3 until she comes to her senses. Sometimes I love the TPS!
Lots of asterixed people today. Sarah S will refresh your memories with up to date surgical alerts. Enjoy!
Upper GI have given up their pm to a gyne reg. Chances of an on time start or finish in here? Chris T is taking bets.
Two EVARs for the vascular team which leaves OT 9 lying empty. The rumour is vascular want to be doing these cases in theatre eventually but this is vehemently opposed by radiology. My bet is that nothing will happen quickly.(Ed’s note – I was right about that!)
A gastro case (banding of oesophageal varices?) booked for the PACU procedure room in the afternoon. Medical teams trying to organize anaesthetic support allows plenty of opportunity for hilarious misunderstandings, but fingers crossed James M will keep everything on track.
Wednesday
Another late start for post take ward rounds, this time in OT 8. Not sure why this applies to some surgeons and not others – and I’m not going to speculate.
Extra gyne APAC in the morning. Strangely enough, no other services need more preassessment time – most struggling to fill the slots they already have. I’m not going to speculate about this, either.
Rachel D available in the pm. ( She’s hoping to get the go ahead to throw away her crutches on Friday – so she should enjoy the quiet while she can).
Thursday
Mr S has asked for a late (5pm) finish in OT 8 – I think it’s because he is the beast with two backs today. (What?)(Ed’s note – two spine cases but I was taking the opportunity to be racy).
Part 2 teaching is a blank in the timetable, so I guess it’s a surprise?
Friday
I was very short today, but so many elective lists have gone down (I guess surgeons are parents too) that we’ve ended up quite well staffed – I even agreed to all day extra gyne APAC.
I’ll be flying out this evening (15th) for a well deserved break, please be nice to Chris J while I’m away – it won’t be the same without me.
Cheers,
Kirsty.