Sharp Scratch

I tried to do everything and I had one or two breakdowns a term..

How many times have you been surprised to find out about a coursemate's hidden talent? Perhaps you've discovered they were Grade 8 Cello when they were 11, or that they were an olympic athlete in a past life?
This week the team talk all about their hobbies - particularly what they got up to before med school, and what their motivations were for keeping so busy!

Inclusive Practice

This week the panel are joined by Michael Brady, the national advisor for LGBT Health to discuss why your patient’s queerness might matter to you, and how to practice inclusively, as well as an interview with Lisa Power MBE, a British sexual health and LGBT rights campaigner. Have a listen to hear Michael Brady answering your questions, agony aunt style!

Queer Allyship

This week the panel are joined by Eli Fitzgerald to discuss what an ally actually is. Find out what makes someone a good (or a bad) ally, as well as how to be an ally for your patients or colleagues.
Learning resources:
The Genderbread Person | A free online resource for understanding gender identity, gender expression, and anatomical sex.
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/system/files/lgbt_in_britain_health.pdf
Allies | PFLAG
Trans & non-binary services - 56 Dean Street- Sexual Heath Services
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If you have been distressed or affected by any of the topics discussed in this programme, you can seek support from : LGBT Foundation Helpline (0900-0900 weekdays) - https://lgbt.foundation/helpline
Switchboard.lgbt (phone line 1000-2200) - https://switchboard.lgbt
Stonewall What’s in My Area? - https://www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/whats-my-area
Mindline Trans+ (National Line, Mondays and Fridays from 2000 to 0000.) - https://bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-counselling/mindline-transplus

Queerness in Medicine

Episode 51: Queerness in medicine
This week the panel are joined by Dr Joseph Hartland, a doctor who works at the University of Bristol Medical School overseeing the teaching of diversity and protected characteristics, to discuss how queerness is seen at medical school. To put the conversation in context, the Sharp Scratch team also had a conversation with Tommy Dickinson, author of the book ‘Curing Queers’, about the history and the legacy of LGBTQ+ issues in the NHS.
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If you have been distressed or affected by any of the topics discussed in this programme, you can seek support from :
LGBT Foundation Helpline (0900-0900 weekdays) - https://lgbt.foundation/helpline
Switchboard.lgbt (phone line 1000-2200) - https://switchboard.lgbt
Stonewall What’s in My Area? - https://www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/whats-my-area
Mindline Trans+ (National Line, Mondays and Fridays from 2000 to 0000.) - https://bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-counselling/mindline-transplus

Why do you want to be a doctor?

It's the age old medical school interview question - but why did we initially want to become doctors? Do those reasons still stand, or are they replaced by stronger motives? Listen to the panel discuss their own expectations vs. reality of life at medical school and beyond, with interviews from TV Doctor Zoe Williams and CMO Chris Whitty.

Working hard or hardly working

Do you have a healthy work-life balance? Find out what actually counts as work, and whether medicine means sacrificing your social life...
This week the team are joined by Sharp Scratch’s old friend Greta McLachlan, Higher General Surgical Trainee and Leadership Fellow at Cleveland Clinic London, to talk about their social lives, maintaining a work life balance, and training less than full time.
You can follow Greta on twitter at @GeeMcLachlan

The F word

Why is academic failure surrounded by shame and guilt? Find out what support is available for students, and why failing may make you a better doctor in the long term.
This week the panel are joined by Rakesh Patel, Clinical Associate Professor in Medical Education, to talk about failing - and why medical students are so embarrassed to fail.

Tackling the hospital tech

This week the team talk about all the tech you might face working in the NHS - from bleeps and fax machines to slow computers. Find out if you’re allowed to use WhatsApp, what the alternatives are, and why the IT can be so frustrating in the first place...
Interviews:
Stephen Armstrong, freelance journalist
Sarah El-Sheikha and Sarah Blackstock are Clinical Fellows at FMLM. Opinions mentioned in the episode are their own and not that of their employing organisation(s). There are other apps available (for free). You can contact them via twitter: @sarah_sheikha and @sarahblackst0ck

Naps & night shifts

This week the team are joined by Mike Farquhar, Consultant in sleep medicine at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, to talk about sleep and fatigue in medical school and beyond.
Morning lark, or night owl, you'll probably need more sleep, or at least a coffee nap. Find out about the science of staying awake.
Paper mentioned by Mike in the ep: https://ep.bmj.com/content/102/3/127

Being at a birth

This week the team are joined by Lucy Chappell, Professor in Obstetrics at King’s College London and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. The panel reflected on their experiences seeing someone give birth, and how to process the emotions that come with experiencing new life.