Nearing the End of our Elective Period

We’re nearing the end of our elective and it’s been a fantastic opportunity to explore a different aspect of medicine to the typical hospital- and community-based experiences that we have had so far. Whilst I like being in hospital or in a surgery, a lot of patient contact happens in the field and it’s great to get an experience of this in a supportive and structured setting – especially without the pressure of looming exams. I think I’ve had enough of that pressure for a little while!

I spent the first half of my elective in the Emergency Department of a local hospital in Greater London, which was interesting if not quite similar in nature to the acute block, part of our Phase III Specialist Clinical Placements. I loved it, and felt that I was able to integrate in the team quite quickly, but the format and scenario was not a million miles away from what I have been doing throughout medical school so far.

For the second half of my elective, I’ve done something completely different and am removed from the usual clinical setting. I’m using this opportunity to broaden my horizons and get exposure to a new medium in which medicine is practiced – and that’s what elective is about after all, isn’t it? I’m working with a company which does outsourced work by police constabularies around the country. I am shadowing healthcare professionals (known as FMEs, or forensic medical examiners), who are all either trained nurses, paramedics or doctors and all of whom have loads of healthcare experience. FMEs assess people who are detained by police officers and brought into custody to be held before either being released or brought to court, and the job of the FME is more or less to determine whether the detainee is fit to detain and fit to interview by police, based on either any self-declared health condition or anything brought to their attention by the custody officer.

This is a very niche area of medicine, and one that I have never had anything to do with before – and I’m seeing a whole new side of our society. Aside from having my mobile phone stolen over ten years ago, I can’t remember the last time I spoke to a police officer. It’s been very interesting so far – the hours are tough (twelve-hour shifts, and I’ve had a few overnights) but of course crime can happen at any time. The teams of officers in the custody are very tight, with good reason, and all members are always scrupulously professional in their interactions with the public and each other. It’s very nice to see.

The area of the country that I’m based in isn’t known for its high levels of violent crime, which is just as well, although of course people can be detained for all sorts of reasons. A lot – but by no means all – of the offences seem to involve people taking various intoxicants usually combined with either driving or hurting other people. It’s a very interesting view into a part of our society that I never see, and I’m glad that I’m using this opportunity to broaden my horizons just that little bit more.

John

Joshua Galvin : 24 Apr 2018 10:27 |  Tags: John Mbchb Student Warwick Wms |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem