I just finished my last day of urban general practice today. And I had a really nice surprise today. My GP organised morning tea for me. And they even got me a very fancy digital thermometer as well. Coz I had been talking the other day about how difficult it is to get the temperatures of squirming babies. So they got me a superfast thermometer! And my GP wrote in the card, "Ur gonna be the fastest temperature taker in the west"

But to be honest, GP has been hard. I have had three weeks of incredibly long days, finishing at 6 most days, some days even 6.30. i have worked with a screaming backache, stumbling out of bed at 7 every morning, rushing between patients when at work. All the ingredients for a thoroughly hateful time. But the surprising thing is how much i have enjoyed the last three weeks. despite the horrendous early starts or the awful late finishes, i have enjoyed it like you wouldnt believe it. Most days, I have at least one patient per day who walks out of the consultation and tells either me or my GP what a good doctor I am gonna make. In most cases, I can handle a consultation on my own. I can diagnose correctly, and more importantly, manage correctly. I can sit and hold a conversation with any patient, be it a kid or a 85 year old lady. or the 45 year old waikato bloke. And those are some of the secrets of being a general practitioner. GP takes patient rapport to a whole new level. You know, just recently I have been thinking, I actually wouldnt mind being a GP, i quite enjoy it. Even the screaming babies with the repetitive ear infections. I enjoy it all. Surprise surprise!