#anothermedblr

So it’s been a while but I have good news; not only did I survive my first year of medical school but I passed it too!

I have learnt so much in the past year and I’ve worked harder than I have ever worked before. In fact, I’m sure that if I’d have put as much effort into my first degree I would have come out with a better result, but I certainly had more fun during that one!

So now I’m about to start second year in a few weeks’ time, which is when things get more interesting. Not only do I have neuro, renal and reproductive medicine to come, in a few months I’ll move over to the clinical phase of the course!

As this summer has been my last long break, I’ve been mindfully enjoying the extended time off. This even included a short trip out of the country (finally) to Amsterdam, as well as much needed catch up time with friends.

Your Life in My Hands by Rachel Clarke.

Dr Clarke tells her story, that of a former television journalist now training as a palliative care doctor in the NHS. Like a true journalist, Dr Clarke gives an honest and emotional account of her experiences, from her previous career, her time at medical school, and from the bedsides of her patients. Throughout, Dr Clarke includes encounters with policies, politicians, campaigners and her former profession: the media, all of which seem to be becoming modern realities of practising medicine in the NHS.

As a soon-to-be medical student, Your Life in My Hands offers me a look into my current future if the situation doesn’t change: an overworked doctor in an underfunded NHS. As bleak as that sounds, Dr Clarke reminds us of the better side of medicine, the reasons for which students like myself chose to purse medicine in the first place. However, she all the while warns against inaction towards that which threatens the NHS, and offers hope for incoming generations of doctors.

The NHS is a national institution of which we’re all proud. From patients to healthcare professionals to healthy members of the public, we all have a duty to protect it and the values for which it stands.

I’m going through the process of founding a new society in my Students’ Union (SU) for other people who’re interested in applying to medical courses after graduating. So far I’ve had a pretty good response and received interest from the required minimum number of students for the idea to go to the next stage.

So today I met with people from my SU, just to go over what I’d done so far and for them to ask any questions. They seemed quite impressed with the answers I gave and told me that the society idea will go on to the next step in the founding process!

That’s how long I’ve been alive (plus ~9 months). Now that’s a strange thought.

Yep, it was my birthday the other week and I turned 20 years old. I’m now in my 20s and that’s when people start getting stuff done in their lives. No pressure then!

Birthday celebrations were good. My friends/flatmates bought me a few presents, including some music that one of my flatmates had been playing around the flat. I really like getting new music, especially when other people recommend it. Sometimes I find it hard to find new music so this was perfect! I’m definitely getting more into music now, and that’s a really good thing.

We went out that night to one of the clubs in the city. I’ve actually started to enjoy going out. I guess I just needed to find the right place and people. I used to feel really awkward in clubs but now it’s a good night out!