02.00 - wide awake. Look at phone. Sigh. Turn over, try to go back to sleep.
03.00 - HOW IS IT ONLY 3 AM?! Sigh. Turn over, try to go back to sleep.
04.30 - oh great. At least this time I got 1 and a half hours sleep this time. Look at phone - anyone to text? Nope. ALL NORMAL PEOPLE ARE ASLEEP. Turn over, try to go back to sleep.
06.30 - Alarm goes off. Turn over, try to go back to sleep.
We all had had a similar nights sleep. It seems the time difference had finally caught up with us. Having finally convinced ourselves to get up and get dressed, we ventured upstairs to have breakfast. Breakfast was interesting ... the classic combination of cereal, spaghetti, grilled vegetables, noodles, porridge and fruit. Odd as it may have been, it was tasty and filling.
Joining the Delhi morning rush was fun! We managed to find our way to New Delhi station and use the metro to get to work.
Having reached the hospital, we were surprised at the sheer number of patients EVERYWHERE!!!! The hospital was clean and friendly, we found our point of contact and finalised our timetable. The rest of the day was spent observing consultations, taking histories in broken Hindi, examining patients and noticing the differences in culture.
Outpatients in the morning, was bursting to the seams. The consultation door had to be locked shut to keep out the heaving crowd of patients.
Consultations that we observed were very paternalistic. There is an obvious hierarchy within the healthcare professionals, but also with regards to the patients. Patients, especially from lower classes, treat the doctors with the utmost respect. Patients from the higher classes, still had respect but expected a lot more ... and it was evident. With regards to the doctors, the registrars ruled the roost until the boss came into the picture ... I have never seen an individual command so much respect (and a bit of fear)!!
Other cultural differences were with regards to gender. Women who attended with backache, were accompanied by husbands worried about who would carry out the household chores ... 'But who will do the ironing?!'.
Verbal 'consent' was an unheard of thing. And bedside manner is less of a priority due to the sheer number of individuals the doctors had to see. So different to the UK, but yet it seemed to work so efficiently!!!
The emergency room was quite different to the UK. Referrals were made quickly and easily. The bay itself, was small with only 5 beds available. However it was clean, well equipped and being used to full capacity efficiently.
Anyway, the day was eye-opening and exciting. Tomorrow will hold new delights and experiences :)
I'm going to try and practice some hindi tonight.
Speak soon xxxxx
03.00 - HOW IS IT ONLY 3 AM?! Sigh. Turn over, try to go back to sleep.
04.30 - oh great. At least this time I got 1 and a half hours sleep this time. Look at phone - anyone to text? Nope. ALL NORMAL PEOPLE ARE ASLEEP. Turn over, try to go back to sleep.
06.30 - Alarm goes off. Turn over, try to go back to sleep.
We all had had a similar nights sleep. It seems the time difference had finally caught up with us. Having finally convinced ourselves to get up and get dressed, we ventured upstairs to have breakfast. Breakfast was interesting ... the classic combination of cereal, spaghetti, grilled vegetables, noodles, porridge and fruit. Odd as it may have been, it was tasty and filling.
Joining the Delhi morning rush was fun! We managed to find our way to New Delhi station and use the metro to get to work.
Having reached the hospital, we were surprised at the sheer number of patients EVERYWHERE!!!! The hospital was clean and friendly, we found our point of contact and finalised our timetable. The rest of the day was spent observing consultations, taking histories in broken Hindi, examining patients and noticing the differences in culture. Outpatients in the morning, was bursting to the seams. The consultation door had to be locked shut to keep out the heaving crowd of patients.
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| First day @ SPH |
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| Melman, unsure about the coffee @ SPH |
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| Marty in the MDT room @ SPH |
The emergency room was quite different to the UK. Referrals were made quickly and easily. The bay itself, was small with only 5 beds available. However it was clean, well equipped and being used to full capacity efficiently.
Anyway, the day was eye-opening and exciting. Tomorrow will hold new delights and experiences :)
I'm going to try and practice some hindi tonight.
Speak soon xxxxx
Despite the tribulations of the past 2 days you have all done well to adjust to the conditions in Delhi. Hope the experience of the different healthcare system enrich your skills for the future practice.
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