Working for the NHS

For a few months in 2008, I had the pleasure of working for the National Health Service (NHS) as a locum. For those who don't know, a locum is an agency worker, often covering a temporary staff shortage for a few weeks or months. But I have never worked directly for the NHS.

As with most British institutions, it is a simultaneously loved and the subject of harsh criticism for it's imperfections. As a foreigner who has much to be grateful for, I view my recent joining the ranks of the NHS as a way to say thank you to a country that has been so very good to me.

With the nearly constant stream of criticism that the press aims at the NHS, I was bracing myself for an atmosphere of carelessness and detachment , but I am happy to report that I am surrounded by extremely passionate and dedicated professionals who are working long and hard to provide a topnotch service despite being understaffed and under resourced. I am extremely proud to be in the NHS and hope my presence will contribute to people's lives in a positive way.

Photo Credit

NHS Logo: Basildon Healthcare

1948 Leaflet: Wikipedia

Driving v Train

I have never been a big fan of driving. I got a car when we moved out here because nearly every job I applied for was community based and required that I had a car. As it turned out, I got a hospital based job. Although I occasionally go out to people's homes, the job does not require that I have a car. Because my beloved is an early career academic, we could be on the move at any moment, so it seems sensible to keep the car as it significantly increases my future job prospects. So I am driving to and from work.

Fortunately, our flat comes with a parking space. But there is a problem at the other end. We both working in the centre of the Leeds and parking is not free. But I did manage to find a questionable neighbourhood about a mile and a half from work that has unpermitted parking, so I walk in from there. So I managed to circumvent a significant potential expense.

I think what I miss most about the train is the downtime it created.  I used to read, write, and listen to podcasts on the train. It was great.  See, when I am driving, I have to pay attention. And although I am much better than I was, I still need to be more attentive as the signage and the directions and angles that moving obstacles such as pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles appear to my sensibility to be in unexpected places.  Not only do we drive on the left side in England, but the cars are also right hand drive, which puts the bulk of the vehicle to your left instead of to your right. For me, it makes judging exactly where the vehicle is in space a bit more conscious and less automatic. Also, in general, the roads are much narrower and the other drivers have a certain level of comfort with getting real close to other vehicles when passing that I just do not have. With all that going on, even listening to the radio can be a bit too distracting for me in city traffic. It was also quite nice in the train that someone else was paying attention of getting safely from A to B.

I really miss my downtime. Driving has really cut into my reading, writing, and podcast listening.

One nice thing about the car is that we live five minutes drive from some nice country roads, and the wife and I will often go on a Sunday drive. These pictures are from those. While I'd hire a car in a heartbeat to drive to Stratford-upon-Avon or London for a weekend, I doubt I would do so for a 40 minute drive. So the Sunday drive is definitely an advantage in the car's favour.

Photo Credits

My beloved wife