Humanities resources to support healthcare professionals and patients
An emotional story and message from an unexpected source. A grumpy old man living in a falling-down house that is under threat from developers meets a do-gooder boy scout. This however is the opening sequence outlining his earlier life. 5 minutes conveys so much, yet it is easy to realise only later that it is Read More …
She clearly didn’t know that this overdose was different. This time, he was dead. In the emergency department (ED), we’ve become all too familiar with the twenty-something code-blue patient – usually male, often found at the train station around 7:30 am. The medical management of a cardiac arrest was familiar, but seeing it happen outside Read More …
The use of force. William Carlos Williams. The child was fairly eating me up with her cold, steady eyes and no expression to her face whatever. But her face was flushed, she was breathing rapidly, and I realized that she had a high fever. She had magnificent blonde hair, in profusion. One of those picture Read More …
On the other side of the ward, there’s that ‘amazing murmur’ – the mitral stenosis, who lies coughing up pink frothy phlegm into a stained handkerchief. He’s in his mid forties, and his face and body are swollen with oedema. A framed picture of his two little children stands on the bedside table, smiling at Read More …
It was as the snow started falling that she blurted it out not meant for the kids, not meant for here, for the snowwoman with her pink hat and old carrot nose, And once it was out she wished she could call it back in, like a dog you could whistle to, but it wouldn’t, Read More …
The false narrative of choice. S Luckett G. ‘Miss,’ she said, as I bit my tongue. I was choking on the worst insult a female junior doctor can bear, ‘I know that crystal meth is really my problem. I’m going to quit the meth.’ ‘Love,’ I started, a reflex term of endearment for the wretched Read More …