First week in KH

I came to KH full of expectation, hoping for a quieter life and easier calls.

After a week of work, I got helplessness and lots of waiting. The pace has slowed, but in exchange comes a different kind of pressure. The mood is as heavy as ever.

The difference from QEH is that there are more cases and you have to handle the medical aspect while also attending to the social problems. Too many cases; there is no way to remember them all. Different families make different demands. You think that once the training or rehabilitation is done they’ll be discharged but somehow it always throws up a lot of other problems.

Expected to have much time for studying, I had barely study for the past few days. Without support from other staff and house officer, there are lots of stuff to tackle everyday. With the ratio of one MO to around 30 patients, the workload is not small. Working aspect ranges from medical aspect like blood taking and drip setting, dealing with minor complaints to social aspect, negotiating discharge plan with family members.

Working in KH is still tiring, not as told to be so ‘free’. In QEH, patient with discharge problem or difficult Hstix control will be transferred to KH/BH. When facing the problems in KH, I found them so annoying.

Stress from the number of cases, lack of knowledge in dealing with social problems, incompetence in managing some difficult medical chronic problems. The strange dynamic among colleagues is also a source of discomfort. Not knowing their expectations, getting rumors from other staff, lack of support during calls all put you in a stressful state.

First call last night, not bad as compared to QEH. Actually, it is a ‘good’ call to me. Work from 230pm till 9pm, I managed to have time for dinner. Then only 8 calls from 9pm till morning. I could sleep from 130am till 7am. Not good sleep … and my beeper got low battery and started shouting… Lucky that I did not miss any calls. Thanks God.