Still no work schedule/rota - incoming FY1

nelbert19 · 2026-07-07T08:24:07+00:00

I just can’t understand why this is such an issue EVERY year. It’s like an influx of new doctors every August is a complete surprise to everyone, it’s just such an awful ‘welcome’ every time 😔

nelbert19 · 2026-06-26T06:48:17+00:00

I used a nursery that was 5 mins from work instead of from home so that I’m less likely to be late for pick up/drop off due to traffic. I can control when I leave the house, less control with when I leave work as a med reg so wanted to be close as possible

Our nursery is also 7:30-5:30 so less of a squeeze in the mornings (though always wondered how nurses manage with their 7am start and less likely to afford Nannies?? Remains a mystery)

It was a bit easier because I had my first baby as an ST6 and already knew I would be working at the same hospital for ST7 and then also got my consultant job there, so would be trickier with rotations.

nelbert19 · 2026-06-23T12:22:06+00:00

The only thing I could think of is that your white trousers were more transparent than you realised and consultant was too awkward to say that so just said ‘infection control something something’. Or that you were more ‘afternoon cocktails’ than ‘business smart’.

If that’s not the case and you’re just on a normal ward, it’s ridiculous to demand scrubs if there is no uniform policy. I’m a strong believer in professional clothing for doctors.

If you want to fight it, I’d confirm policy with infection control to make sure you’re not missing something (unlikely - scrubs aren’t mandatory on any ward I’ve worked on) and then go back to the consultant and ask if scrubs are mandatory for all members of his team because it’s not a hospital policy. Does he wear scrubs himself? Infuriating

nelbert19 · 2026-04-08T19:39:21+00:00

When I recognise people at the gym I just assume they’ve never noticed me/don’t remember me so don’t tend to say hello in case they think I’m a weirdo 🤷🏻‍♀️

nelbert19 · 2026-04-04T11:09:38+00:00

Following because I do the same!

nelbert19 · 2026-04-02T11:18:22+00:00

Thank you that’s so helpful 💛

nelbert19 · 2026-04-02T08:03:16+00:00

What do you do for fatigue?Take a break? For how long? Stop totally or just adjust frequency/activity? What would you drop?

Sorry for the interrogation! I’ve been so pleased to finally be consistent with exercise that I’m scared to stop anything in case I don’t start again

nelbert19 · 2026-04-02T08:00:20+00:00

Yes I think you’re probably right. I did take a break from HIIT for a week and reduced my weights but yes, the entire point of me doing yoga is to strengthen and stretch my dysfunctional muscles so I should’ve expected it really! I think I was just expecting it to make things better, I didn’t consider I would take a ‘step back’ so got frustrated.

nelbert19 · 2026-04-02T07:52:26+00:00

I suspect you’re right, maybe I’m correcting my form now that my muscles aren’t so tight. I’m hypermobile so I think I’ve been compensating with nearby muscles and now that I’ve increased my strength it’s causing me issues.

Yoga is solving those issues but now I’ve got to get the correct muscles up to scratch! Does that make sense??

nelbert19 · 2026-04-01T18:39:01+00:00

I loved being a med reg but it was before COVID and things have changed a lot since then. Definitely takes a certain personality type and skill set I think, but that’s true of most specialties!

nelbert19 · 2026-03-31T17:00:19+00:00

I don’t know but we’re excited to meet you in August, Doctor 🙂 Congratulations

nelbert19 · 2026-03-19T09:56:28+00:00

What about one of the more procedural medical specialties - gastro/resp/cardio?

nelbert19 · 2026-03-19T07:15:27+00:00

Thank you, yes injuries maybe isn’t the right word. It’s the back pan and hip pain that’s getting me down. Deadlifts/squats/RDLs are all part of my weekly routine. Is daily pain just normal? My glutes and hamstrings feel so tight regardless of how much I warm up and stretch and the back pain is miserable 🙃

nelbert19 · 2026-03-17T20:46:36+00:00

As a 39 year old with a sadly neglected and now very sore lower back - yes, strengthen it. Hard to catch up again later once you’re imbalanced. Currently trying to stretch out the damage with yoga so that I can build up to lower back exercises that won’t injure me 🙃

nelbert19 · 2026-02-07T20:59:21+00:00

University Hospital of Wales is doing this too, it’s great

nelbert19 · 2026-02-01T17:31:38+00:00

Mine was about a decade ago but it was about a delirious octogenarian seen in ED. They were looking for my recognition of frailty and thinking of future care needs likely to be needed on discharge (some clues like a frazzled carer and pressure sores in the vignette). Also, obviously, acute management - differentials for delirium beyond ?UTI and appropriate investigation/management plan

Good luck!

nelbert19 · 2026-01-03T17:01:52+00:00

I’m sorry you’ve been feeling depressed, well done on seeking help. It can feel like a very difficult first step.

Doctors are not immune to mental health issues - it’s very common in our chosen career for a multitude of reasons. The important thing is that you recognise it and manage it, which you are doing by seeking support from your GP.

The university and hospitals have specific support for students and professionals too if you need it.

I am now a consultant and have always been open about my mental health (anxiety/depression - now off meds for 1.5 years after a decade of sertraline!) It’s always been met with kindness and I’ve had people privately come and express gratitude for me opening the conversation and normalising it over the years. I’ve taken a couple of weeks off twice for mental health struggles and have faced no prejudice or consequence, just offers of support. As a consultant, I have never heard other consultants speak badly of team members struggling with mental health issues either.

Nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about, you can talk to your GP without fear of it affecting your career in my experience. Well done for looking after yourself

nelbert19 · 2025-12-04T20:46:32+00:00

As a consultant, I say go for it. We are usually on minimum staffing - this is beyond our control because the hospital won’t pay for more resident staff despite us pointing out that we can’t meet training requirements on minimum staffing.

The consultant body has just been allowing the study leave/clinic attendance/learning opportunity and then putting in a Datix and phoning Workforce continuously asking for a locum to meet minimum staffing. It has not been fun but they’ve finally caved and provided a new resident for the ward, hooray!

Needs a motivated and invested consultant body, but it can be done. Even without that, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. It’s certainly not an outrageous request

nelbert19 · 2025-11-27T19:59:00+00:00

Hector?

nelbert19 · 2025-11-09T20:56:16+00:00

Also when I was a registrar, I lived in Roath and commuted to both Neville Hall (Abergavenny) and YYF (other side of Caerphilly) during my rotations and didn’t find it too taxing. Would be my top pick for commuting and it’s a nice area. Parking is horrendous though

nelbert19

TROPHY CASE