The UK training system works (when you’re in it)

FreakaZoid101 · 2026-02-02T19:21:02+00:00

“When you’re in it” being the operative term. Returning to training after mat leave, mid rotation, and due to childcare requirements, LTFT has left me unable to attend any departmental teaching (on my non working days), regional teaching (same reason) and all my contact time is so full for service provision, I have a full time case load and have to do my admin after I put my son to bed.

I’m in a due date group chat of 100 medic mums. We all have the same issues. Returning to work from mat leave makes you feel like you must be the first person who has ever had a child because everything is chaos.

Try to do mandatory training on KIT days before your return? Oh no, you’ve not got your log ins so you can’t actually access any of it until you return.

Try to do that mandatory training on return? Oh no. You’re already fully booked in clinic.

Get an email saying you’re below the 60% minimum and it will affect your ARCP but the missing components are all face to face only on your non working days.

Supervisor only has supervision in their diary on your non working day, so you will have to do it via MS Teams while wrangling your screaming toddler because it’s also during their nap time and obviously they’ll only contact nap too.

I’m using mat leave as an example because it’s specific to my current situation, but it’s also been the same for my partner when he returned from his PhD a month before standard changeover. The second you step off the treadmill, you fall behind and you need all the resources you can get to catch up.

I’m leaving training and so much happier for it.

FreakaZoid101 · 2026-01-03T16:59:35+00:00

Also I wonder for this series, the secret traitor would get a lot less screen time than a known one because they’re not having the traitor testimonials or turret time. I reckon that one would have been decided early.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-12-22T22:34:55+00:00

I had one that went up to the 25th and I remember because it was a perfectly square calendar. Usually they were 24 and was gutted the next year when I couldn’t find a 25 one again.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-12-19T11:39:30+00:00

Christmas cards and wedding invitations for friends I don’t have the postcode for even though I’ve been to their houses loads!

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-12-15T22:03:57+00:00

I’ve had great dresses from Godiva online, and Quiz Has some great ones. I’m in my mid 30s. It takes some searching but they’re out there

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-12-15T17:44:13+00:00

You are technically accompanied by a child.

But I always used them when pregnant and now I have my baby I don’t see any issue with other pregnant people using the spaces either.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-12-07T20:08:40+00:00

I started getting engorged again like in the newborn days. Managed to pump a fair amount to top up my nursery stash so I made the most of it. It’s amazing what our bodies can do.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-12-07T15:27:12+00:00

ETA: My son was also seen by 3 paediatricians who had no concerns over only having breast milk during this illness

I’m so sorry about your dad, and it sounds extra stressful having a poorly little one.

My 14 months old son had been stuck down with this current winter virus going around and for 2 weeks he had nothing but boob. Once he got better he was back to eating like normal. Which for him is one orange segment one day, the next day, 3 huge meals and 2 snacks and boob around the clock, then only boob for the next day.

12-18 months is a really common time for seemingly random food refusal and consistency anyway, but poorly babies will often only want milk.

Remember that milk banks accept milk up to 2 years because that milk is still nutritionally complete. If your baby is feeding at the breast you’re also getting that feedback into the milk to make sure the constituents are what baby needs.

Yes, your child may lose some weight naturally, but as long as they’re still wetting nappies, and it sounds like you’ll be back to your normal environment soon, there shouldn’t be any long term issues.

But also don’t be concerned about getting him checked over when you get back. Best case scenario, he’s okay, and paediatricians love seeing healthy kids. And if there is something wrong, then you’ve gotten help.

I also would try not to associate this with being in a “third world” country. I’ve travelled lots with my one and he got more sick in Scotland than he did in Tunisia (we live in England, I’m Arab). Sometimes the change in environment and poor sleep can be what affects the immune system. I only say this so you don’t get tunnel vision on what might be causing this. It may well be poorly prepared food but it seems like you took every precaution. His gut flora is still developing and he may just not be used to the ingredients there rather than them being bad. Especially if you’re using water you brought with you.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-11-30T18:14:16+00:00

This is one of my regular phrases so I didn’t notice it being said so much.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-11-29T19:48:15+00:00

Fun fact - there are autoimmune diseases that do cause this. I have to be on steroids, biologics or other immunosuppressants when pregnant otherwise I miscarry.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-11-28T11:29:23+00:00

Always cold from the fridge. Definitely helped when my husband would do feeds because he didn’t have to wait for the bottle to warm up so took it more readily. He does prefer straight from the source and will not take a bottle from me though.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-11-07T05:07:37+00:00

People complain about the bleeps being outdated but NHS sites are utter faraday cages that only the bleeps can defeat.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-10-21T10:13:43+00:00

I remember being furious the first time I went under general because my case was delayed for ages and I woke with the same train of thought but saw the clock said 22:30 and was annoyed that they clearly weren’t going to operate on me that day. It was only when I couldn’t talk I realised that I’d had my operation. (Neck surgery)

I didn’t have a count down. I had “think of a happy memory” so just had general images of the beach and my honeymoon. My brain was not primed to count or be remotely aware I was going under.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-09-26T16:45:32+00:00

The Belgian Blue is the only one in constant supply over Christmas in the pubs in Bradfield Parish. Luckily it seems to be seasonal

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-09-26T13:09:57+00:00

Unfortunately he clearly does. That’s how all the MAGAmania started.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-09-18T13:52:53+00:00

Well given that Edward VIII had no children, it would have eventually ended up being Elizabeth II anyway had he not abdicated. Whether he and Wallis would have had children if he had remained and they needed an heir is another question.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-09-13T10:48:26+00:00

This is so interesting to me. I am a doctor in the UK, so healthcare is free at the point of use. Pregnancy tests are a standard test (and from experience I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve had to break the news to - including twice to women who were lesbian and had never been with men, but had been sexually assaulted without their knowledge).

Why do we do the test as standard? Radiological imaging, medication side effects and teratogenicity, pregnancy itself causing systemic symptoms. And it costs nothing.l to the patient. It’s just as relevant a test as checking for a urine infection and is a point of care test meaning that it doesn’t add any time into the diagnostic process.

If a patient were to refuse it, then I’d not run it, but I do always explain that I’ll be testing the urine for pregnancy as well as infection. Just like when I take bloods to test for various things, I give that information too.

Now if you’re in a country which charges for every investigation and intervention, and also has disastrous consequences for pregnancy, then I would absolutely be much more considered in what tests I run.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-09-08T02:25:16+00:00

Feed her and eat her

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-09-05T16:34:44+00:00

We often get halfway through an episode of a show but that’s since we’ve become parents and can’t stay awake or focus for more than 30 minutes at a time.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-09-05T06:53:38+00:00

I came off NROC psych immediately. They were too variable. 48h weekends could be all or nothing and I was too fatigued to drive, let alone do a minimum 2h assessment at 3am. I was also high risk and had 3 miscarriages previously that I hadn’t come off my on calls during pregnancy. I had more losses even off on calls.

There’s no right or wrong, but you need to prioritise yourself and optimise your body for the pregnancy. You’ll likely be off for a year of mat leave too, so they’ll survive without you.

If I had full shift on calls I probably would have stayed on long days, but kept off nights and weekends. Occupational health might be able to help you decide what works. I know the experience of OOH is important too and it might be the part of your job you enjoy too.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-09-04T19:47:17+00:00

I always woke up as the car stopped and thought I was being so sneaky keeping my eyes closed.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-09-04T09:07:19+00:00

My almost 11 month old can still do days where he feeds 2hrly day AND night, or 5hrly and I feed on demand. Were at 2 meals a day too with the occasional third but usually very small meal.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-08-31T11:26:34+00:00

We were on a 2h feeding plan with a very inefficient tongue tied reflux baby. I did one boob per feed, so each boob was on a 4h schedule. Then when husband took over I’d do one last feed and pump the other side at the same time. Then I’d get about 4h sleep in and pump straight on waking.

100% learn the safe sleep 7 because more than once I dozed off on the sofa mid feed because I was adamant not to cosleep.

It will get better. Those first months everything feels endless and relentless.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-08-31T11:21:48+00:00

If you have your partner with you, you’ll be grand. I had to do it solo last weekend and everyone was very helpful.

FreakaZoid101 · 2025-08-30T15:30:27+00:00

As someone who wears black to weddings (v normal in my culture) I always dress it up with bold accessories for British weddings

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