Education

Reinforcing the power of humanity

“And what skill will you be teaching?” “Guitar,” came the reply. “Great!” My enthusiasm was somewhat fake. In my experience the few surgeons who tried to teach guitar in five minutes, failed miserably. Depending on your experiences of guitars – or surgeons I will...

Repulsed by cruelty

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” I was taught to say this at school if called a name – and I did, when I was. Even before I began to be a spectacles wearer – not a cool look in 1978 – I was singled out for being small, skinny and...

Redefining the hero narrative

  “Show me your teeth!”       It was not a request, but an order.       Standing very close, in front of me, so that I could see his nasal hair, and feel his breath upon my face, this tall, well built, strange man issued his order...

Recalling genuine kindness

“Do you mind if I sit here?” I looked up and saw a woman in her late 40s carrying a tray of lunch. Yes, I wanted to say. Yes, I do mind. Actually. I chose to sit here, away from everyone else, at the furthest corner of the room, on a table on my own for a reason. “Of...
Remembering what we believe in

Remembering what we believe in

"Assumptions!" declared a voice. I looked up to find a tall man in a cassock and dog collar, clutching a bible to his breast. “It’s all about assumptions,” he repeated, looking triumphant. Assumptions, I wondered. Was that a book of the bible I had somehow missed in...

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Realigning our priorities

Realigning our priorities

Five people, strangers, met one sunny Friday in early September. They had not met previously, but had come together with one sole purpose in mind – to create. Standing around in an airy workshop, stuffed to the rafters with material, tools, objects and knick knacks,...

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Relinquishing our obsession with technology.

Relinquishing our obsession with technology.

A recent piece in the BMJ Opinion on 4 May highlighted the concept of “Covid Fatigue” among both patient facing hospital staff and those behind the scenes using technology to continue working. Where the former are tired, weary, irritable and disoriented, sometimes not...

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Reinforcing the need for creative compassion

Reinforcing the need for creative compassion

It was Christmas Eve when they came in, cold, a few snow flurries. He had been on the floor for several days after his fall, and she, as old as her husband, but suffering from dementia, was confused and upset. She had managed to put a blanket over him and a pillow...

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Recognising what we do

Recognising what we do

In all the tweets and diaries and newspaper pieces  I read from doctors and nurses in the lead up to the onslaught of the Covid 19 pandemic, one theme permeated the fear and anxiety. Not becoming ill. Not dying. Not even losing loved ones, but the fear of...

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Re defining a professional approach

Re defining a professional approach

“This is the best course I have ever done.” “You have transformed the way I see education and the world.” “I have never met anyone like you.You are a true inspiration.” What do you say when you are told this?  The first time I was flattered, tried to share the...

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Rewriting: the rules for feedback

Rewriting: the rules for feedback

I couldn’t work out if she was shy, or just did not want to be there. But this was a course people were invited onto, with prestige attached, and paid for. If she had not wanted to do it, why had she not just pleaded a hectic schedule and declined? I tried harder,...

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