Day 115

Hello from Thailand, at the end of my first week at work here! I hope you are all enjoying spring (last thing I heard it was raining, but it's raining here too!) and I can't wait to see you all soon! In fact, I miss you all so much I'm coming home early!!!

So week one in Hua Hin Hospital; a mixed bag to be honest; some really great bits and some terrible bits and definate frustration at not understanding the language! Monday was a bank holiday so we had a quiet day seeing some local sights and visiting the train station to admire the architecture (I've never said that about a train station before!) and see some local "famous" tourist sights.

So to work on Tuesday - after an hour spent in the Doctors' lounge waiting to meet the man in charge (no change from the UK there then!) I was given a timetable and a quick guided tour of the hospital. The actual building is very modern, and quite large - having said that there is a whole floor reserved for the King in case he needs to be admitted. The staff all seem really friendly, although there is a massive language barrier - my Thai is practically non-existant, and only a few of the Drs speak English. I have spent time in Outpatients (Peadiatrics, Orthopaedics, Obs and Gynae), theatre (language is less of a problem there!) and A and E so far and have definately seen a wide range of conditions. Dengue fever, malaria, a traumatic amputation and trigger finger rate amongst the most interesting so far; and I have seen some really impressive practice with modern equipment, some routine things and if I'm honest some horrifying treatment as well. I'm trying to see it all as a learning experience!

I have been to the night market and several local Thai restaurants in the evenings, and have plans for the weekend which include riding an elephant!!! Yippee!

Lots of love to you all,

Have a brilliant weekend,

Miss you xxxxxxxxxxxx