On the 11th of March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a global pandemic. In the United Kingdom (UK), radical changes have been implemented within the National Health Service (NHS) affecting the way hospitals are run on a day-to-day basis. The effects of these changes are uncertain and may compound […]
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Cardiovascular PACES an examiner’s perspective
Some candidates examine the patients in a chaotic fashion and often continue with discussion along similar lines and thus often fail themselves. Other candidates may examine in a superficially competent manner with an obvious sense of purpose but appearances can be deceptive. During the following discussion (candidates are not supposed to talk to examiners during […]
Postgraduate teaching and COVID
Innovative methods of remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemicJA Gilmour, J Holman, A Hindocha, A Donald, R Curnock, H Manning, D Pask, L Turnbull, R Ranganna. In March 2020, Coronovirus hit the UK and caused huge changes to the NHS. Aside from the clinical challenges; educational and training opportunities were cancelled which significantly impacted on […]
Transparent Face Mask for those hard of hearing who depend on Lip Reading
With the introduction of mandatory face masks following the COVID19 pandemic and Safe distancing in most of the places of work, it is a huge challenge for those who are hard of hearing and depend on lip-reading. Working in the NHS, I know more than a couple of people whose life has been affected and […]
Impact of COVID-19: a surgical trainee perspective
Impact of COVID-19: a surgical trainee perspective The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges worldwide. The status quo has particularly been offset for those in the remit of healthcare training and surgical trainees are no exception. As for any other healthcare professional, the risks of COVID-19 are real. Donning and doffing off multiple sets […]
Monsoon, Vitamin-D, COVID-19: Implications for India
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused 11,903 deaths in India as of 17 June 20201. Epidemiological evidence shows that transmission and peaks of infectious diseases are associated with the timing and severity of monsoon, generally peaking towards the end of the monsoon period2,3. Observational studies indicate that vitamin D deficiency might be a risk […]
Could postgraduate medical education look different after Covid-19?
The Covid-19 pandemic led to rapid changes in the way things are done throughout the NHS and delivery of postgraduate education is no exception. Almost overnight we moved from predominantly lecture-based teaching to online platforms such as Zoom. In the face of a global pandemic where clinicians have appropriately prioritised frontline clinical care, there was […]
IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: A FOUNDATION DOCTOR’S PERSPECTIVE
At the time of writing, there have been 4 258 666 cases of coronavirus globally since the first case was reported on the 31st December 2019 (1). This has had far reaching impacts in all aspects of life, resulting in lockdown of a third of the world’s population (2) at its peak and significant alteration […]
Physician Shield Thyself
We are foundation doctors who have been advised to ‘shield’ and are clinically defined as ‘extremely vulnerable’ (1). We are one of many groups within the wider population of doctors whose personal and working lives have been impacted by COVID-19. Our position has shifted from practicing doctors to ‘extremely vulnerable’ members of society. Public Health […]
FiY1s Need the Support of Their Teams to Add Value
In light of increasing pressure on the healthcare system due to COVID-19, the UK Foundation Programme Office has recently announced that final year medical students, most of whom received an early graduation and early provisional registration, would now be given the opportunity to start their training early and to take up the post of a […]