It's been a while since I last wrote my blog and I have been receiving several messages of concern regarding my well being as it seems it is the only way people know I am still alive. Since I last wrote I have been on Safari in a game reserve 3 hour drive away. The GPS seemed to be programmed to take us through all the hijacking hotspots in Gauteng province with signs continuously reminding us. We set up camp under the red light from my head torch so it wouldn't...

After recovering from my night shifts which was done by sleeping almost for 24 hours straight, I was back on the day shifts. However, I've decided this week to cut out the majority of medicine in my blog but in summary my week has included several motor vehicle, pedestrian vs car, stabbings and shootings. I've been asked to close wounds that would easily be a Plastic surgeons job back home. I've also made the mad dash to theatre with a patient after he couldn't m...

I have just woken up at 4pm. This isn't because I am extremely lazy but the contrary. I have worked the bank holiday weekend night shifts. I was told that this is a busy weekend as it is Youth Day and they did not lie. Saturday night got off to a slow start. A couple of shootings early on in the night that had to be taken to theatre for wash out and exploration. But they were ok. One chap got shot in the scrotum, which was rather unfortunate. There was the stan...

A whirlwind few days of trying to find my feet in a busy and dynamic department. A 5:30am wake up was not welcomed however, necessary to show I was keen. For the first day at least. The meeting was about cases who died or were about to die. So fairly morbid in nature. After the meeting I still had no idea where to go and I was dressed like a gimp as I forgot to pack any shirts so I was dressed like I had just come off a golf course. My questions were eventually a...

Today was the big day. My first insight in to the government run healthcare system of South Africa. I woke up bleary eyed as I didn't sleep particularly well due to the sound of my fridge making gurgling noises throughout the night. Always a downfall having a fridge 3ft away from where you sleep. However, on the flip side, if I ever feel peckish at night I don't even have to get out of bed. I arrived at the Med school by uni shuttle bus despite it only being ab...