tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post8396222415949849012..comments2024-03-14T09:50:40.819+00:00Comments on Dr Grumble: Grumble and the trampDr Grumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04417731064007601504noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-14591854578279324382010-12-09T09:02:37.723+00:002010-12-09T09:02:37.723+00:00Here is Dr Aust's missing post without the lin...Here is Dr Aust's missing post without the links (one was the wrong link I think): <br /><br />Thanks for adding that, Anon 02.01. It is clear that people in healthcare sometimes wonder "what's the point" (I know Mrs Dr Aust does), especially after a long stretch in the trade. One of the tough things is that it is the ones who genuinely feel compassion for the patients (who in the main are the doctors, nurses etc one would actually want to be treated by) who feel this the most keenly. Dr Phil's post here is worth reading on this. <br /><br />At the risk of sounding a bit trite, here is a quotation attributed to Gandhi, which I found on Prof David Colquhoun's blog and then appropriated for the sidebar of mine:<br /><br />"Almost everything you do will be insignificant, but it is important that you do it."Dr Grumblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04417731064007601504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-24005738977511102692010-12-06T20:27:45.191+00:002010-12-06T20:27:45.191+00:00Weirdly, a comment I have now posted THREE times k...Weirdly, a comment I have now posted THREE times keeps disappearing.<br /><br />I must have eaten too much spam.Dr Austhttp://draust.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-66854787338591822062010-12-06T09:03:27.938+00:002010-12-06T09:03:27.938+00:00Are all 'tramps' the same?
Are all 'r...Are all 'tramps' the same?<br /><br />Are all 'really fat people' the same?<br />______<br /><br />No. But sometimes you do know when you are onto a loser. For example, there is no point in helping somebody stop smoking if their heart is not in it. All you can then do is move them towards coming round to giving up.<br /><br />As for fat people, even slimmers of the year tend eventually to put on weight again so they are all difficult nuts to crack. They would never have got fat in the first place if they didn't have a major problem.<br /><br />Some of these tramps, whom in the old days we used to admit for Xmas to give them a wash and brush up and some food, are quite lovable rogues. Sometimes alcohol is their poison, sometimes mental problems and quite often both. Some are delightful until they get drunk when they are obnoxious. A good few have TB and it could be in the public interest to be able to look after them a bit more than is easily possible these days. If you ask them gently many will tell you they have been in prison - sometimes for terrifying crimes.Dr Grumblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04417731064007601504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-39013886423294153972010-12-06T08:47:08.115+00:002010-12-06T08:47:08.115+00:00Are all 'tramps' the same?
Are all 'r...Are all 'tramps' the same?<br /><br />Are all 'really fat people' the same?<br /><br />Sounds like you need some help with sorting out your individual patients from your stereotypes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-41157388257020968852010-12-05T21:21:52.423+00:002010-12-05T21:21:52.423+00:00I'm with the AECN here.
You still have to kee...I'm with the AECN here.<br /><br />You still have to keep trying, even though they may come back. It's what we do.<br /><br />An old Jewish story:<br /><br />A lady sees a tramp on the street, so she stops and gives him £5. He thanks her very much. 'Now then', she says, 'don't go spending that on drink'.<br /><br />'Lady', he replied, 'you gave me the money, for which many thanks. But what I choose to spend it on is my business'.Cripponoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-77701150372658957972010-12-05T18:32:24.074+00:002010-12-05T18:32:24.074+00:00I think that you did the right thing, and while Dr...I think that you did the right thing, and while Dr Blunt was right, at least the Tramp survived that winter. When I was a house officer at a similar hospital we would often admit such tramps, for a bath and a few hot meals. Most were appreciative but some were abusive, some had DT's, most were Some degree trouble to other patients.<br /><br />Anyone can respond with love to someone who loves them back, it is far more challenging to respond with love to those who will abuse you. That is the essence of medical practice, and also nursing. It is gruelling, and understandably makes staff cynical, but cynicism destroys all it touches. <br /><br />Great post, I wish I could write to the same standard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-40496231287826368532010-12-05T02:01:55.983+00:002010-12-05T02:01:55.983+00:00I used to cut myself. It's an ugly thing that...I used to cut myself. It's an ugly thing that few people will sympathise with.<br /><br />One day, I was admitted to hospital and I saw the same looks on the same people's faces, the disgust of the ambulance crew, the doctor who told me she had more important cases to deal with and left me in the cubicle.<br /><br />Then along came a nurse who popped his head round the curtain and found that I'd been left to my own devices. He gently took me to another room and carefully explained to a baffled student how very important it was to anaesthetise the wounds properly before stitching them. She clearly couldn't see the point. <br /><br />Whilst he stitched me up, he gave me advice on the best way to get blood out of clothes. <br /><br />He treated me with decency and respect and kindness. That was 2259 days ago and I haven't cut since.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-87358740752970616492010-12-04T17:55:09.581+00:002010-12-04T17:55:09.581+00:00There are many situations both clinically and soci...There are many situations both clinically and socially where the outcome is unlikely to be favourable (when framed in terms of populations, or discrete groups) but there are almost always exceptions that disprove the rule?<br /><br />I know of a few "frequent attenders" that were NFA who are now doing well, or at least better - or put another way, not everybody returns to the park bench.<br /><br />What we do, and when we do it, will always have resource implications, but surely we have to keep fighting for those who are less well off even if Dr Blunt is proved right more times than he is proved wrong?the a&e charge nursenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-41242887688225023242010-12-04T16:08:56.486+00:002010-12-04T16:08:56.486+00:00But what is the right thing? Putting really fat pe...But what is the right thing? Putting really fat people on a diet might seem the right thing but there is really no point as in the end they all let you down and eventually put on weight. <br /><br />It's the same with tramps. You can try and help but they will always let you down. It is actually very important to realise that some efforts with your patients will be almost certainly fruitless and in the end will be of no help to them. You can then focus on the things that do make a difference.Dr Grumblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04417731064007601504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25200961.post-40683621287708028032010-12-04T15:00:06.600+00:002010-12-04T15:00:06.600+00:00...but you did your bit - what the tramp did with ......but you did your bit - what the tramp did with that was up to him. You are not reposnsible for his actions - but you are responsible for yours. You still have to do the right thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com