Alex Brown

Slightly crusty, unusually old, core trainee surgeon. currently based in NI. Medical knowledge is still a work in progress. Thoughts/opinions my own.

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@nedboulting @chrishoy Whatever made you think it was about @chrishoy?

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@friebos @itvcycling A very sad day indeed. I first watched the tour highlights in 1987 when Stephen Roche won, and much as I enjoy Eurosport’s live coverage I will always watch the highlights on ITV for the best between the racing info

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@RobLaurensonD4P I think TPDs should be aware of the rotas that their charges are undertaking. I think it is relevant, if only to make sure they’re not abused by their health boards.
I’m a surgical trainee, currently averaging less than one day a week in theatre. It’s not great is it🤷🏻‍♂️

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@DGlaucomflecken It’s ok, we speak imperial and metric over here

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@DocDoLi The idea is that each exam your knowledge base should improve and therefore you demonstrate progress.

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@DocDoLi It’s not quite right. The progress test is the same exam taken by all years at the same time. The exam itself changes every time. There are some questions that are standard for all medical schools, others that are chosen locally by individual schools.

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@wintsrugby Indeed. Nails.

My physique currently resembles the chap on the left🫣

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@andy4wm A terrible loss for the West Midlands. I hope you’ll be back!

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@drPramV Looks like they get better every year!

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@Eluned_Morgan And just remind me who it is that has run the nhs in wales into the ground?

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@sib313 I agree. Doctors should be consulted, but the realistic decisions, the planning and the management needs to be done by people who have the right skills.

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@drPramV We do seem to be making changes, but it needs people to have the mindset you mention and have a vision to what conditions are needed to allow doctors to develop and as result be best for our patients.

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@drPramV Many of the rotas are non EWTD compliant, so you might imagine burnout is a massive issue… but it’s culturally more accepted than back home and people almost expect it. Patient safety seems much less of an issue🤷🏻‍♂️

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@drPramV It’s interesting isn’t it. I’m working in a place which is culturally behind England and Wales and I’m astounded people accepted the conditions just because their predecessors did. It’s only in the last month we’ve stopped 24hour shifts for SHOs which were clearly unsafe.

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@drPramV Extraordinary. What part of medicine did they think was easy @drPramV?

I’d love to know who they spoke to before deciding to apply for medicine?

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@InvictaOrtho Definitely a test for communication skills there

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@wesstreeting To call them Doctors in training would imply they are getting significant training. All too frequently the ‘training’ is merely service provision leading to doctors feeling undervalued.

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

Just finding a bit of time to reflect on the idea that for a training post to be called that, it should really involve some training.

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@TimVataha @Xeon4f145d96s1 How many patients know what IMT3 means?

[Alex Brown @Alex_Brown_07]

@Xeon4f145d96s1 My if badge already says doctor on it.🤷🏻‍♂️