Diary 6th To 8th November 2017

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Diary Monday 6th November 2017 The beginning of a long demanding but largely rewarding week. I had a whole day of voluntary work at the University, talking to students about my experiences both good and bad with the medical profession. In the morning I gave a direct address to about 90 students on my personal experiences, facing jargon, being stone-walled, trying to separate the person talking to me from the corporate-by the book speak they often use, getting frustrated when I’m addressed according to a formula rather than as an individual being spoken to by a professional human being. It was well received. In the afternoon, a smaller group of students performed role playing scenarios as patient, doctors and observer. Myself and other volunteers as well as the course tutor helped out and made observation on the exercise which went very well. Diary Tuesday 7th November 2017 My induction day for the post office work that starts properly in two week’s time. I will be paid for attending this induction too, which was basically standard health and safety advice and a tour of the workplace, exactly the same as they did last year. It was nice to meet other staff, many of who remembered me from last year too. Diary Wednesday 8th November 2017 University activity again, this time I was a patient for student doctors to test their ability to diagnose, and talk to patients. It was great fun as always, and terrific to see the doctors of tomorrow. In the afternoon, I went to the job club to update my job search activity files, dominated by the post office induction and the voluntary work. Arthur Chappell