The Power of Language

Needles hurt, a lot! This was the overwhelming message projected by my practice nurse when immunising my four year old son.  My little man had strolled into the treatment room rather excited about the prospect of becoming big and strong as a result of his immunisation.  After hearing: “Try to be brave” [You probably won’t…

Role Modelling in General Practice

Fatherhood and general practice require a remarkably similar skill set. One of the most important roles of a father is to offer a strong role model for his children. I believe that General Practitioners should offer the same for their patients. In the modern era of lifestyle intervention and primary prevention, why should our actions not…

The Joys of Writing

Documentation is an integral element of medical practice. The modern age of electronic records and digital communication has all but eliminated the age-old curse of the medical handwriting.  Unable to comment on illegibility, patients prefer to comment on the slight discomfort they feel when you maintain eye contact and take a thorough history while touch…

A beginning

I first considered a blog two years ago.  After far too much reading and not nearly enough writing, the project was shelved.  That was until last week, most of which I spent surrounded by a group of young, enthusiastic and downright inspirational young doctors at GPET13.  The overwhelming message was to give it a go. …

Dr Dadda, the Truth Behind the Title

At the age of 2, my son busted his lip running to give me a cuddle. Not a day passes when I don’t notice his scar and wish I had managed things differently. The laceration was not large, but it was difficult to tell with the tears and blood whether it involved the vermillion border.…