The Oxygenator Assessment – Part 1
I’m sure by now most of you are asking what on earth the oxygenator is. To be honest, I asked it too. I had to think of a way to get you thinking about an often neglected area of patient assessment… neglect of which can be catastrophic. As I started thinking about it,...
Ignaz Semmelweis – ‘The Saviour of Mothers’
I can vividly remember being taught how to ‘scrub up’ as a third year medical student. The careful scrutiny of the theatre sister filled me with fear. Had I touched the wrong part of the scrub pack? Were my hands completely sterile? On more than one occasion I...
Why Antarctica?
The stories of the unknown adventure, camaraderie, hardship, sheer dogged determination, and often superhuman strength, of mind and body of the early Antarctic explorers such as Scott and Shackleton are amazing tales to this day. Some of the events make you groan with...
What Can Ants Teach Doctors About Teamwork?
I have just spent the last two weeks observing a team, which was full of resilience, oozed motivation and was full of pride. They faced change on an hourly basis and worked tirelessly for no pay or reward. For those observant ones amongst you will have no doubt guess...
