Weekly update

11 November to 15 November

I am pretty sure you all miss Dr Wongs updates, but dont despair he will be back next week 🤣🎉

Monday: Fresh Start

After the lovely rain this weekend, doesn’t everything just feel a bit brighter? The air is crisp, and there’s that beautiful smell of rain-washed freshness lingering everywhere—our own natural reset button! Here’s hoping this week feels as refreshing and revitalizing as the weather does.

YEAR END VOTING !!!!🗳️

make your voice count !! vote for your future leaders 😎🤩

and also some fun awards !!

https://forms.gle/M76WYJJGTCUmNKaY8

(Please take a moment to participate in this vote for the year end please ❤️🌸)

Tuesday: A Call for Equipment Care

Alright, team, I’m going to dive right into it—equipment care is on my mind, and maybe I’m the “equipment nag” here, but I truly think we need to pay more attention to our tools. Here’s why: this past Sunday, I was on call and we had two airway cases lined up. My senior and I ended up sprinting across the entire floor looking for a high-flow machine. We were sure it was around—confirmed it was seen two days prior—but it was MIA just when we needed it most. This ended up delaying the start of the case as we had to go all the way up to Level 8 and bring one down from there. And then—of course—we later discovered there were actually three just “chilling” on Level 6!

And it didn’t end there. The same morning, I found a D blade just hanging out in Cidex without a protective cap, exposed and at risk of damage. Another D blade had been in the Cidex so long that it was stained black and managed to stain my hand just by touching it! It’s clear we’re all incredibly busy, but if we don’t care for this equipment and make a conscious effort to keep it where it belongs, in a safe condition, we’ll end up with a serious shortage of functional tools. And let’s face it—when things break down or go missing, we can’t always vent about the lack of equipment if we aren’t pitching in to maintain it😭😭😭😭😭😭

Also, has anyone else noticed how few Braun pumps are left on Level 6? The other day, I found just one!

This isn’t a blame game and we all have moments were we are at fault , but let’s remind ourselves to handle the equipment with a bit more respect and responsibility. If we all put in a little more effort, our tools will last us longer, and we’ll have one less thing to stress about during those hectic days.

Wednesday: New Beginnings - The ‘Coffee Club’!

For anyone who couldn’t make it to last Friday’s meeting, I’m thrilled to announce an exciting new initiative introduced by Dr. Naidoo: the ‘Coffee Club’! Think of it as an academic pit stop in the week—a place to gather, caffeinate, and get some focused prep for the Part II exams. The spotlight will be on OSCE prep, so if you’re gearing up for exams, you’ll want to join in! We’re beyond grateful to Dr. Naidoo and Dr. Schoeler for their dedication, foresight, and hard work in getting this going. It’s a rare chance to prepare as a group and lean on each other’s strengths, so bring your coffee mugs and enthusiasm—we’re about to get exam-ready together!

Thursday: Kudos to the Part II Refresher Team

A huge shoutout to everyone participating in the Part Il refresher this week! The department is a bit short-staffed, and some of you have even had to do calls in the middle of the refresher. Just know that you're doing fantastic work, and while the hard days can go unrecognized, every patient who wakes up safe, pain-free, and comfortable is a testament to your dedication. Keep up the great work-you're making a difference!

Friday - Academics: Dive into This Week’s Talks

End the week with some great academic discussions to fuel your knowledge:

• Anaesthesia Considerations for Cardiac Tamponade - Dr. T. Mogoto

• Paediatric Oncology and Anaesthesia - Dr. Woest

We’re looking forward to these insightful sessions, so bring your questions and your curiosity!

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Thanks, everyone, for your hard work and commitment to excellence. Wishing you all a fantastic week filled with learning, laughter, and maybe a few extra cups of coffee!