Handover
General Surgery is not for the weak!!! This was my most character-building job of FY1. I was thrown into scenarios I didn’t think I’d have to deal with. Medical school never prepared me for this rotation.
Often you are the only doctor to cover hundreds of surgical patients, and that includes being the first one there when they deteriorate. You will learn to prioritise important jobs over ones that can wait (such as TTOs).
I really understood the meaning of NHS pressures in this job - not every healthcare staff is there to help patients, and sometimes it feels like you’re the only one advocating for them. Pros: Big team of juniors, trauma bonding, made my best friends on this job Cons: Early starts, seniors disappear to theatre, often having difficult conversations with other healthcare staff and relatives
Workload Rating
8/10
Tasks Performed
Bloods/Cannulas, ECG Interpretation, Verify Death, NG Tube Insertion/Interpretation, Assist in Theatre, Opportunities to Teach, Opportunities for QIPS/Audits