Saturday March 28

I was asked the other day what I missed most about my normal routine in the morning. It caused me to really stop and think what it was started the day “right” for me. It’s so easy in the rush of day to day life to pass by and not consider how our actions and decisions affect ourselves and others. Having paused for thought, whilst eating my porridge, the way I arrived early for work so that I didn’t have to rush into the day, had time to stop and talk for a couple of minutes with both day and night staff on the ward was important to me as I felt I was more in touch with what was happening on the ward which could ultimately affect my day. Being able to chat with Alan about life and the universe in the department over a coffee as he ordered stores for the operating theatres are the parts of the routine that I miss most.

So how does it vary here? It’s simply a much bigger hospital and the layout of the ship means that I don’t walk through the ward area to reach the OR department. I only have one or two patients per day that are even staying on the ward since most of the eye patients walk on and off.

So my day may start at 5.45 am if I decide to visit the gym or go for an early morning run. Breakfast is served until 7.30am but 3 days a week there are “devos” which commence at 7.30am so breakfast can sometimes be a little rushed but then there’s no washing up for me!

Down to the department for 8am for a “board meeting” to discuss what is happening in the day, changes to the lists, pray for the day, and then off to our rooms. Being in the eye rooms we prepare for about 30 patients most days and the majority of those will be for cataract surgery. Our 2 rooms have patients in them by 8.10am and so our day commences. We work steadily through our list of patients to about 11.30am. This will include teaching new staff in the OR department and also some of the Beninoir surgeons who are coming to learn the technique which Dr Glenn Strauss has developed.

If there are patients who require a general anaesthetic these will often be done last on the morning list in the room in which I most frequently work as I am then able to help the anaesthetist.

Lunchtime and then the afternoon continues until we finish the list. Clear up and stock up ready for the next day. If I’m on-call I will check the other rooms to see if they will require help to finish their list. By 6.00pm most days we are finished. There are always exceptions to the rule and we work on a principle of expecting the unexpected.

Evening activities can include Toastmasters, in service training, small groups (rather like housegroups) or simply catching up with emails, laundry and friends. An occasional meal out always makes a welcome break too and I have begun to investigate the local restaurants. Research on these continues…….