David Wandless

When you apply to medical school, they ask you the question. The one you’re never really meant to answer honestly. “Why do you want to be a doctor?” They tell you not to say “to help people,” or “to make a difference,” or “because I like science and people” — even if those things are true. You’re told to be polished but passionate, strategic but sincere. As if anyone at 17 actually knows who they are, never mind what they want to spend their life doing. I didn’t have a simple answer then. I...

It’s hard to know who reads these things. Maybe nobody. Maybe I’m just slinging words into the void like darts at a fogged-up dartboard, hoping one of them hits something that matters. But if you’ve ever worked in frontline medicine — especially in general practice — you’ll already know what I mean when I say heartsink patient. It’s not a diagnosis. It’s not in the books. But we all know it. It’s that moment when a name hits your eyes or triage list and something inside you drops . Not ...

You like acronyms? Of course you do, your a medical type - the ruder the better. I couldn’t ever recite the Cranial nerves without talking about Boobs (in my head at least - I’m not daft) Introducing my very own unstudied, unofficial, unlicensed one - VAPOR. Because some consultations, especially those that become a pitch battle of wills, feel like you’re drowning in fog. And sometimes you are. Here’s how to surf the fog instead of getting stuck in it. VAPOR = Validate · Align · Plan · Offer...