The Royal London Hospital

I was sarcastically expecting amazing things today at the Royal London.  To my surpise, I was blown away!  The Royal London Hosptial is brand new.  The staff moved in 1 week ago.  Construction begain in 2005 and cost over 1 billion pounds. 

The hosptial has a helicopter pad for emergencies and covers a large area all the way to the M5 (wherever that is).  There also a lot of interesting history regarding the hospital.  The "Elephant Man" was treated there and apparently his skeleton is on display at the medical campus.  Forensic evidence from the murdres by Jack the Ripper are also on display.  Acutally, most of his murders were done in Whitechapel, the location of the hospital.

I didn't meet with my consultant (attending) today as she was on leave.  She told me to join morning rounds.  When I joined the medical team, I was immediately pimped by the consultant.  I was not expecting this.  He asked me to tell him about pancreatitis.  I said, "Me?" and he said, "yes you're not here for decoration".  He also asked me about bronchiolitis, and rotavirus.

I asked if there were any medical students that worked with the team and he said that they were but that this group hasn't been showing up.  I told he we would not be able to get away with not even showing up at all for the day.

I worked with the SHO1, (senior house officer year 1, US equilivant of a PGY 2), SHO2 and the SHO3.  Both were extremely down to earth and nice.  No one wears a white coat and it think it helps get rid of the hierarchical feeling.  No one.  In fact, the white coat is prohibited.  LOL.  Boy I wish it was like that in the states.

I didn't have any responsiblites today.  I did a brief history and exam on a patient who has hemangioblastoma, as well as PDA, ASD, and VSD.  The SHO3 told me that medical students don't really have responsiblites on the ward.  Instead, they have a day when they visit a GP and do an exam on one of the patients.  I think a 3rd-4th year US medical student has more experience interviewing working up and managing a patient than a junior doctor (US equlivant of an intern). 

The house officers here do all the blood draws.  There are no phlebotomist. 

Today was the last day for the house staff before they switch.  Just when I had bonded with most of them.  Seriously, I really liked all of them.  Again, they are so down to earth you forget you're in a hospital working with doctors and feel like your hanging out elsewhere.  We went to the pub Sams (The Good Samaritan) after signouts and they each took turns buying rounds. 

Tomorrow I'll join my attending on Accidents and Emergency.

Differences between US and UK medicine
1. UK does not vaccinate against VZV, Hep B or rotavirus.  I saw a pt today with chicken pox