Awesome GP placement!

As part of the MBChB program, we are required to undergo a GP placement. So, for once a week for 8 weeks, we are all assigned to clinics all over of Bristol. It's such a great opportunity since we are only in the first year!

I was assigned to Christchurch Family Medical Centre, Bristol. It takes me about 45 minutes to travel by bus.

The clinic's reception. (the only picture I took, sigh)

So, myself and 3 others are placed under a GP. We'll split into two, one group would stay in the clinic while the other two will go to the patient's homes.

My partner is awesome Becca who is kind of my unofficial translator. Haha! Cause sometimes the patients could not understand my accent and that's when she'll step in and explain. LOL

So we did about 4 sit-ins with the GP and 3 home visits.

This experience is really an eye opener because it really allows me to gain a deeper understanding in how a GP consultation works and also allow me to encounter many different patients with different symptoms and behaviours. Besides that, I get to see how a GP conduct physical examinations. I even get to talk to a patient with  an illness that I never heard before in my entire life. So, it's indeed very enlightening. 

It's really interesting to watch how certain patients behave with their GPs and how they explain their symptoms to the GP. The consultation only lasts 10 minutes for each patient. The patient would normally talk for about 26 seconds before being interrupted by the GP. Sometimes I really wonder how the GP can work out the appropriate treatments for the patients within that short period of time. But I guess the skill comes with time and adequate experience. 

I also realize the kids here are really outspoken! I remember when I was younger and in the clinic, my mom would be the one telling all my symptoms to the doctor (although I'm the one who is sick and probably know best) but the kids here are really unafraid to tell the doctor where they feel sick. I remember thinking wah, why they so brave wan. LOL. Or maybe I was just a coward. haha

I particularly enjoy the home visits the most. I admit I was initially very nervous. What if there are awkward silences and  I said something really insensitive and get kicked out from the house? LOL But, the patients are really nice to welcome us into their homes and allow us to take a sneak peak into their lives. Many are curious about where I came from since my accent is so different from theirs. But yeah, it's nice to talk about my country for a bit and enlighten people LOL. For confidentiality reasons, I can't reveal too much about them.  But I would like to take the opportunity to thank them for sharing their stories with us and patiently answered all the questions we had. 

In a blink of an eye, 7 weeks had passed. We had our final week in Pizza Express which is kind of a feedback session/farewell and I had this awesome portabello mushroom pizza. I kind of miss it now (the GP placement not the pizza I mean LOL)  but I'm glad we get to repeat this again in the third year. I heard it's super duper tiring. My senior told me she was in the hospital for the entire time and have not seen sunlight in days LOL. 

SIGH, kind of sad that I forgot to bring my camera to take a group picture in the end. I realize people here don't really take photos unlike us LOL. I remember back home everyone would rush to take pictures of every single food and people during outings. I still have the habit now but it's kind of dying cause I look queer capturing every single thing including all the insignificant ones.

But anyway, I had a great time and I'm looking forward for more! :)

Till then,

pikee