Dr Silas Webb is a University of Bristol graduate who has launched a blog (The Silver Linings Handbook) to support medical student volunteers and new doctors joining the NHS during the pandemic
Name: Silas Webb
What is your role/job?
I am an F3 Doctor currently working in St George’s Hospital in South London. Having spent 8 months working in A&E I start my Emergency Medicine ACCS training in August. I have an intercalated degree in Global Health and have just finished the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the London School, which has come at a very apt time for all things pandemic. I was working in an Emergency Department in Kampala, Uganda when borders started closing and so am back at work in the UK earlier than expected. Like so many others, I am also starting work in an unfamiliar environment, having just started a clinical fellow job in intensive care as my hospital rapidly increases its ICU capacity.
What advice do you have for Junior Doctors given the challenges we are facing in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic?
We are having to look after higher volumes of sicker patients than ever before. We are having to have more difficult conversations and break bad news in unfamiliar and upsetting ways, which is physically and emotionally exhausting. Not only that, but we are having to do it in tight fitting masks and sweaty gowns, which doesn’t make it any easier. Of course, we have to look after ourselves and each other through this.
But I also want to focus on the positives we can take from the situation as well. The community goodwill, working camaraderie and flattening of hierarchical systems are just some of the benefits that I have found working right now – and I believe will continue long after the pandemic. You can read more of my optimistic thoughts in an article I recently wrote for the independent – https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/junior-doctor-coronavirus-frontline-nhs-message-a9447481.html.
I also think that being confronted with a new disease means that we have the opportunity to become experts within our departments. As juniors we are often the clerking machines in A and E and on the acute take, so will probably have seen more Covid cases than many of our seniors, who from my experience are respecting that. Try and stay a breadth of the new research and you may well find you have an important voice on the rapidly changing policies and protocols in your hospital. I am trying to synthesise some of the emerging data in a series of weekly blogs if you want to avoid trawling through too many resources - https://remarxs.com/Blog/Blog/Silver_Linings_Handbook_Tips_for_the_Covid_Cohort_-_Chapter_1_-_Dr_Silas_Webb
Favourite lockdown recipe or snack?
Before the flour ran out I started doing a Bake Off style competition with a group of 3 friends who lived locally, in which each week one of us would make a cake and give (or leave on the doorstep for true social distancing) a quarter to the others to enjoy. I made a chocolate and Guinness cake that when down quite well, and its always nice cooking for others (and being cooked for). I’ve also just discovered the veggie lasagna toastie, using leftovers from the night before, which is as good as it sounds.
Favourite social distancing activity?
On my days off I try and get up and do some exercise – Joe Wicks PE classes are a fun morning activity to do with the housemates. Make the most of your government sanctioned time outside whilst the sun is out, and when it’s not… watch Tiger King.
Any other comments or recommendations for Junior Doctors?
Despite constantly hearing that Covid-19 ‘levels’ society, affecting the rich and powerful as often as anyone else, I totally disagree. It will take a long time to see the fallout of COVID-19 for the poorest and most vulnerable in our society, but it is a near certainty that inequalities will increase as a result of it. I think as doctors it is important to appreciate how intrinsically linked these inequalities are on the health of our patients, and would hugely advocate reading Michael Marmot’s ‘The Health Gap’ and his recent ‘Health Equity in England’ (https://www.health.org.uk/publications/reports/the-marmot-review-10-years-on
) review.
Image from the video available at: https://remarxs.com/Blog/Blog/Silver_Linings_Handbook_Tips_for_the_Covid_Cohort_Chapter_2_-_History_and_Assessment
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