March of the Idiots

Everybody seems to have a case of the terminal stupids today. I know I work in a department where people are very ill, very worried and need treatment as soon as they can get it, but there are times when things can't happen the way they want, either because things are overbooked or because they're just asking the impossible.

Patient's husband rings. Says his wife went into local hospital, who referred them back to us. CT scans and referral letter on the way to us, but could he please speak to a doctor RightNowThisMinute about wife's condition? Five times I explained that, without the referral letter or scans, no decision could be made. Five times he said, "Well, the hospital referred me to you; can I just come in and put the copies of the scans in front of a doctor on the day ward?" No, because the doctors are already running around like blue-arse flies; the scans will come to us and I will put them in front of a doctor. "Oh. Well, could I speak to a doctor anyway?" THE DOCTORS CANNOT MAKE A JUDGEMENT CALL ON A PATIENT'S SYMPTOMS WITHOUT THE NOTES, SCANS OR OTHER MEDICAL INFORMATION! IT WOULD BE STUPID! *sigh* Fifteen minutes later, he finally got the hint.

A house officer from a ward that has nothing to do with oncology rang up and says, "We need Dr Slevin to see a patient who we think has recurrence". I tell him we can book her a follow-up appointment, as she cancelled the last one. He says, "No, we want Dr Slevin to see her on the ward". *sigh* Dr Slevin doesn't do that ward. That's not an oncology ward; Dr Slevin's an oncologist. This is another case where I might have to send a registrar in, simply because Dr Slevin's leaving in an hour and a half. But hopefully the SHO will speak to his registrar and work out something that isn't stupid or impossible.

Patient's daughter rings, tells me that her mother has decided that she wants to go ahead with chemotherapy. Great! Of course, the patient only came in yesterday and since I was out, I haven't typed the letter yet and have no idea what the suggested arrangements were. Unfortunately, neither does the patient or her daughter. All the same, she wants time and date, despite the fact that no bookings could have been made until the patient decided she wanted chemotherapy. I tell her I don't handle the bookings but will pass it on to someone who does. She says she still wants time and date ... despite the fact that the patient hasn't been booked yet. I inform her that the ward will get in touch with her as soon as possible after I get the copy of the letter I have yet to type to the registrar who handles such bookings. She tells me she will ring me back in a week to see how things are progressing. I inform her yet again that I don't handle the bookings and would be of no real help, but I will ensure that the registrar understands the urgency of the situation. She tells me she will ring back in a week to see how things are progressing anyway. What part of, "This is not my department" don't these people understand?

Patient wants to talk to the registrar. I offer his mobile phone number. Patient says, "No, I want to speak to Dr Registrar". Um? I explain to her that he has asked us not to use his bleep but to give his mobile phone number to anyone who needs to speak to him. Patient says, "I'll go back to switchboard and try again". Then hangs up. Huh?

I don't get it. Why has everyone got such a case of the stupids today?

I was in such a state yesterday that I forgot to mention the reason I mentioned the Dariacon I'm not attending. I got a private message from Padre on the message board he frequents and I lurk at, saying it won't be the same without me. A part of me's inclined to say that it will be the same without me, as I haven't gone to a bona-fide Con in three years, but that'd be mean. After all, it's nice to be appreciated. But I'd still rather be gaming and besides, I can't afford it. I mean really can't afford it.

I feel a lot better. Still tired and everything, especially given that cholten99 and I had one of those conversations starting at about one in the morning, but at least not in that state of burn-out I felt in yesterday. You know -- where everything's just that little bit disconnected. If I get to bed before 1 am tomorrow, I might actually be human again by tomorrow.

In the meantime, I seem to have battered the office back into the kind of shape I prefer it to be in, but there's still stuff to be done, so back to it.