Prior to the commencement of the HMDP training, I had been working at the Whittington Hospital in London. Despite the advice from seniors and the preparation before departure, the culture shock was inevitable having lived in Singapore my entire life. To start with, the first winter was unbearable – not the cold but the lack of sunlight that I took for granted in sunny Singapore. Frequent mood swings led my non-medical husband to correctly diagnose me with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I greeted the arrival of spring with unimaginable joy!
On the work front, while medical practice did not differ too vastly from what I was taught, I realized how pampered we were back home. At the Whittington and subsequently at University College Hospital, it was daily practice to get one’s hands dirty. There was no luxury of having a nurse in the clinic and one had to be healthcare assistant, nurse, doctor, counselor, receptionist all rolled into one. And who was I to whine when senior consultants including The Queen’s gynaecologist were leading by example!
At the 30th British Congress of O & G in Glasgow
Debutantes ski class in the French alps With colleagues at Christmas Dinner
In England, patients prefer midwives to obstetricians. Heaven forbid the arrival of an obstetrician in the delivery suite of a patient with a ten-page birth-plan and a ‘doula’ (personal midwife) who deems the presence of a doctor as ominous. Then there is the African mother who refused an induction despite being 44 weeks pregnant and the inebriated patient who called me a ‘silly cow’ when I refused to let her out for a ‘fag’ (cigarette). And don’t get me started on the risk managers who are never there when needed but appear like a swarm of locusts when something goes wrong. The list goes on. But it was not all bad. The thank-you notes, the odd bottle of wine, supportive colleagues and like-minded friends at work more than made up for it.
To be under the tutelage of a professor known as the Father of Fetal Medicine in the circle was a humbling experience. There was so much to learn. Every member of his team was intelligent, skilled, focused and driven. Besides the daily work commitments, there were committees to be a part of, papers to write and students to teach. It was an inspiration to be part of the team and gratifying to know that I had learnt from the best. The professional conduct of some of these doctors gave new meaning to the ethos of medical practice. Regardless of race, religion and class, all patients were treated the same in the Trust hospitals. Altruism was at its best as teams of consultants pontificate over guidelines and management of conditions specific to certain migrant populations. One learns to be sensitive and truly respect differences in culture and beliefs.
When summer arrives, one gets invigorated by the potpourri of activities in Europe. Within the UK, there were the numerous palaces of kings and queens, the ruggedly beautiful coastlines and charming fishing villages of Scotland. The warm and sunny weather brought with it a sense of optimism. One memorable experience was dancing to the music of Gyspy Kings at Kenwood House while enjoying a picnic of Pimms & scotched eggs. Inter-hospital softball games were played and usually lost despite my valiant efforts. Traveling in Europe on no-frills airlines and immersing in the sights of the different cities, picking up the odd Spanish phrase, learning to ski at the grand old age of 30 and aching in parts of my body I never knew existed, all completed my experience of living in a foreign country.
It was an eye-opening experience. Work orientated goals were achieved and papers were published and amidst all this, I am glad to have learnt not just medicine, but also bits of European art and history to pique my curiosity. I count being able to hold my own in the kitchen now as a personal victory.