Pseudocyst

The adventures and life of a Specialist Nurse in Upper GI and Bariatric surgery. If you then double and triple this by having a primary school age child AND being married to another Nurse then you have double the trouble….aehm I mean fun. Hobbies are playing chess, board games and being taxi for our son!!!

Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this blog are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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  • Upcoming Postgraduate (“Junior”) Doctor Strike in England

    Disclaimer: This blog entry is provided for academic and professional discussion only. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of the NHS, the author’s employing organization, or any affiliated professional bodies. No patient‑identifiable information or confidential material is included. The content complies with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)… Read more

  • Plot Twist: How to Hack Your NHS Nursing Career (Without Losing Your Scrubs)

    “Plan like a grandmaster, hustle like a student nurse on free pizza day.” Disclaimer Opinions expressed here are my own and do not represent my employer or the NMC. Everyone loves asking how I keep tripping over jobs I like. Spoiler: there’s no enchanted stethoscope—just a very un‑glam combo of long‑game plotting and downright sweaty… Read more

  • The Crisis in UK Nursing: Pay, Retention, and the Future of Care

    AS ALWAYS FIRST THINGS FIRST: NMC Social Media Compliance Disclaimer This article represents my personal professional reflections as a registered nurse in Somerset. It has been written in strict accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Professional Standards (2018) and the NMC’s Social Media Guidance. Specifically, it complies with section 5 (confidentiality) and… Read more

  • When Big Brother Finds Your Blog

    My wife barely knows I have this blog—one I update more regularly than our shared calendar. It’s been a quiet space to reflect, share thoughts, and document the highs and lows of working in healthcare. Until recently, I assumed it was a well-kept secret. Turns out… not so much. Luckily, I don’t just write about… Read more

  • A Well-Earned Easter Break: A Moment to Recharge for Our Busy Family

    After weeks of juggling full-time work at the NHS, the school run, and endless responsibilities, our family is finally enjoying a much-needed Easter break. It’s a time for rest, relaxation, and a well-earned pause from the chaos that has become our daily routine. For me, as a full-time NHS worker, the past few months have… Read more

  • The Implications of Bariatric Surgery Abroad: A Critical Analysis of Patient Outcomes and NHS Impact

    Bariatric surgery is an increasingly popular intervention for severe obesity, offering significant health benefits, including weight loss, improved metabolic health, and reduced morbidity and mortality (Rubino et al., 2022). However, in the UK, patients seeking such procedures face long NHS waiting lists or costly private treatment. Consequently, an increasing number opt for medical tourism, undergoing… Read more

  • Setting up an Ambulatory Pancreatitis Clinic in Somerset: Challenges and Feasibility

    Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a significant cause of hospital admissions, with an incidence of approximately 30–50 per 100,000 per year in the UK (Yadav & Lowenfels, 2013). While severe cases necessitate inpatient care, mild-to-moderate cases (which constitute up to 80% of presentations) could be managed in an ambulatory setting (NICE, 2018). Benefits of an ambulatory… Read more

  • Physician Associates

    The introduction of physician associates (PAs) into the NHS workforce has been a subject of considerable debate. Advocates argue that PAs can help alleviate pressures on an overstretched system, whereas critics highlight concerns regarding their scope of practice, limitations, and the implications for patient safety. The following write-up give you a “critical analysis” of the… Read more

  • Mental Health problems overdiagnoses?

    Wes Streeting’s comments earlier today on the overdiagnosis of mental health issues have ignited an important debate on the intersection of public health policy and welfare economics. While acknowledging the legitimacy of mental health conditions, Streeting warns against a growing tendency to diagnose individuals too readily, potentially leading to over-reliance on welfare benefits rather than… Read more

  • Closure of NHS England??!!??

    The NHS was established on July 5, 1948, as part of the post-World War II welfare state reforms led by the Labour government under Prime Minister Clement Attlee and Health Minister Aneurin Bevan. The foundation of the NHS was driven by the Beveridge Report of 1942, which identified the need to eliminate the “five giants”… Read more