Monday is always the bluest.

Monday - Had Medicines Information for the whole day in Stokes Mandeville but managed to go on ward rounds in the stroke and elderly unit, joining in with the consultation process with the doctor. MI was rather interesting and challenging, well, when you know the book by hand, you're a clinical pharmacist by name. Anyway, had a really bad experience in the stroke unit when I overheard an elderly woman patient who is about to get discharged sitting with another younger girl and a middle aged woman where it goes...

Woman : "Hi there, you feeling better? Can't wait to go home?"
Pity aunty : "Yes yes, I can't wait.".

And the gruesome part comes.
Woman : "Well, have you heard of XXXX homes? Are you keen to stay outside away from home?"

And the aunty stared at her blanky.
Pity aunty : "No No, I want to go home."

The lady never stop pestering,
Woman : "Do you have anyone to take care of you at home?"
Pity aunty : "Yes, my daughter and her husband. They take care of me."

Still persevering...
Woman : "Well, you see, your daughter have a hard time now that she's working and she can't manage taking care of you all day now. So there is this rehab centre XXXX, you can come and try to stay in for a few days, see whether you can suit the place well or not, some sort of a trial."
Pity aunty : "Uhm..well...I...I..." *STARES BLANKLY*

I can stand no longer. It was just so heartbroken to hear that. I looked away, held back my tears and think, 

"NO ONE, YES NO ONE!!! IN THIS FREAKING WIDE WORLD SHOULD SEND THEIR PARENTS TO WHATEVER REHAB CENTRE JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEM. GET A MAID, OR WHATEVER. THEY NEVER LEAVE YOU WHEN YOU'RE BORN (WELL, EXCUSED FOR THOSE WITH EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES) AND SO, THY SHALL NOT LEAVE THEM IN THE HANDS OF SOME OLD FOLKS CENTRE WITH OTHER POOR OLD PEOPLE WHO WAS SEND IN BY THEIR OWN UNGRATEFUL CHILDREN." 

And yes, unfortunately, that just ruined my whole day.

To my dad & mum

I promised that you will stay with us three children no matter what happens, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and cherish you both always.

And yes, no old folks home or rehab centre or whatever home their is. 

You'll only have a home where you want to call it home.

Back in MI for the afternoon, some small scale argument arise when someone didn't came back from lunch and was suppose to be on duty. And so the 'manager' was a bit cheesed up when everyone came in finding for the someone. When she came back, she wasn't in a really good mood and then it happens. Oh well, I wouldn't side either one but when things like this happens, you won't see it coming, but when you're working, you should have known your own responsibility, despite the circumstances you're in. 

It's a tough world out there. Those who are still studying, do enjoy. Working life is never ever gonna be good no matter what positive thoughts you have in your brain.

"I'm doing the job I love. I just love working."

Cheeseed. Wasn't true. Never true. 

6days, 144hours, 8640minutes, 518400seconds more to go

It's the weekend so HOORAH!! Well, minus the H and RAH, add a B and lots of O behind.

Had a stroll along the city and, well, it was...a sunny and warm day.

With the weather making me all sweaty and sticky, I decided to just enter the shopping mall. 

Chilterns Shopping

Eden Shopping Centre

-Yeap, that wraps it all up-

What a city. Nottingham still feels like home to me.

My room is filthy infested with spiders. Ugh. I've seen 5 so far, and 2 are dead. One stays in the tiny area between the table and the wall while the 2 other..I don't know where it is.

The one below is DEAD. RIP. 

Not a place I want to be

Week 1 in High Wycombe Hospital

Monday - Had a brief induction with the Voluntary Officer before I was sent down to the Pharmacy department. The lead pharmacist became the tour guide, bringing me and another integrated pharmacist in and around the hospital. Then I spend the rest of the day in the dispensary looking at validation of prescription (mostly TTO and Outpatient). It was seriously a total mess up for me with the stages of validation, labelling and dispensing and finalising the checkout. And in the validation process itself, I think the pharmacist has just opened 165898340103435 files and folders to confirm a prescription. That's not only it, sometimes, she/he had to bleep up the doctor to confirm whether is this the drug the doctor want to prescribe, etc etc. Well, obviously not doctor only, sometimes even nursing homes, retail pharmacy, healthcare centre, surgery, etc. Whatever you call it. Not only was I just standing and observing, I ONLY STAND AND OBSERVE. Yes, that's it for the whole afternoon. Look, see, look, see.


How much more boring could that be?

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Tuesday - Done ward round in MAU (Medical Assessment Unit) where I did learn more things, like looking up a patient medical chart, check the dose and frequency and type of medication, reorder and stock up medications should it be insufficient, checking the BNF once in a while to firm some matters. After lunch, it was dispensary. Dispensing, labelling and controlled drugs. I would say NHS is as troublesome as troublesome could be. Non-formulary, unlicensed, etc. etc. etc. and that's for simple medication like Pantoprazole. Goodness, so much restriction. What's wrong with having all the medicines on formulary? Had a few rounds LOOKING at them labelling and dispensing before I went over and feed the robot with medicines.


The robot is super duper cool!

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Wednesday - Went over to Stokes Mandeville Hospital. Had a morning session with the paediatric pharmacist and had a walk round the neonatal and children ward. It was really nice to look at small little children but yet, sad to see them being in hospital. Pre-mature babies are just so tiny. Like really really tiny, I don't think I can handle. Then I went on to distribution from which I was 'transferred' to George to.....pick up stock? Then had a walk to the renal unit, to......count stock? Back to the pharmacy, did procurement on ordering stocks, etc etc.


I freaking hell don't know why do I need to know about distribution and procurement. All I do is just stand and look. And listen. What turf.

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Thursday - I went on the MAU wards again with the ward pharmacist and a pre-reg pharmacist who had taught me a lot. He went through the medical chart slowly and carefully. A pace which I, a beginner myself, can keep up with. I know the pharmacist are busy but just tune down a little so that I can catch up, is that too hard? I'm here to learn anyway, not just SHADOWING. Went on to the surgical ward, or more specifically, antibiotic ward round with Breda where we look at patients who are on antibiotics and rationalize whether was it appropriate, and if not, intervention should be done. Had a short meeting with the microbiologist where discussion on appropriateness is brought up more thoroughly.


Wasn't bad. At least I learned slightly more things today.

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Friday - Went on ward round with the surgical pharmacist in the surgical ward and on TPN rounds. She was good! She had all the details in her head and told me what I should have know, asking me questions now and then (which makes myself looks dumb cause I fumbled and hesitated on my answers at times). I can be surgical pharmacist already! Well, just kidding. Far far away from that. Was in the dispensary in the afternoon where someone seriously pissed me off. I was scheduled to be on clinical trials and I wanted to ask to person in charge what's in for me to do. I waved in front of her and she said, "Don't wave in front of me.." and SWOOOSH...away she goes. Well, there was a slight turmoil in the pharmacy earlier and as the dispensary pharmacist, she was responsible. But WTF, just answer me at least. Think you very high position now is it..wait a few more years, I might be giving you a presentation on my product called "BITCH".


Oh gosh, a week of unhappiness just ended. One more week to go.

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Saturday & Sunday - Will be just walking around the city and maybe Bicester Village if time permits.

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I felt like I'm in AIMST here.

Fun-tastic time in Northern Ireland

A month of working in Bradley's was nothing but FUN FUN FUN! 

I can't fathom their good deeds and toleration, teaching me stuffs from head to toe.

The beautiful Bradley's Pharmacy plate 

The dispensary, well part of the dispensary

OTC products

And moooooooore

Other household items, baby napkins, etc etc, fragrance counter..

And the ever professional Consultation room

(I've got DeJavu, did I post this post up before? Or something similar?)

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Anyway, from the great, kind and loving people of Springtown Bradley's Pharmacy.

With a photo album full of memories. 

My little note to them reads: 

On my first arrival to NI, it has been a thrilling and exciting experience in which I would regard it as an educational vacation trip. A month time frame was rather short, but truly enriching with the amount of work and knowledge I’d gained. It didn’t take long for me to bond with the Springtown ‘family’ because everyone was amiable, hospitable and merry. It wasn’t a structured summer placement conducted but I had learnt and covered every aspect that is essential.

As far as my working experience are listed, I have done a 2 week placement in a private retail pharmacy back in Malaysia during my 1^st year where it was a good kick start to my future career. I also went for a pilot placement in a surgery for 2 days in Nottingham, where the aim is to access multiprofessional involvement in the healthcare industry.

My work placement in Bradley’s Pharmacy gave me new insights on the difference of the system practiced in different countries. There were only minor differences observed ie. Coding of product dispensed, between the UK and NI. However, in Malaysia, pharmacist are yet to be part of a recognised profession in the healthcare industry as doctors are given the rights to prescribe and dispense medicines altogether.

In Bradley’s Pharmacy, lead on by a group of dedicated and conscientious staffs,  I’ve had hands on acquaintance on OTC medicines, dispensing, drug register (both prescription and controlled drug), extemporaneous preparation, stock count, minor ailment and smoking cessation scheme, prescription labelling, tray dispensing, work at the till, and serving customers. Learning bits and pieces of each work tasks had given me the ‘taste’ of the tasks and responsibility of a pharmacist.

This work placement has been absolute and prepared me well in being a pre-registration trainee in a year time. Nothing could be more pleasant than working in a peppy environment with a group of amusing and entertaining people but yet serious and dedicated to their work when you’re working from 9 to 6.

Special thanks to Mr Liam for giving me this opportunity. Thanks to Deborah and Connor for tutoring and teaching me, Barbara and Jane for answering my every questions and doubts in the dispensary and also for the lift every morning, Tracey and family for inviting me to her place and bringing me in and about, and nonetheless Paula, Geraldine, Annette, Janine and the other shop assistants too.

It has been a really enriching and knowledgeable trip to Northern Ireland. Jubilee!

I mean it, truly, deeply. 

Fatigue, restlessness, wasted.

For the time being, I'm just too tired. Too tired. That I go went to bed at 8pm yesterday and had almost 12 hours of sleep. 

Today, by 11pm.  

I dread to go back home already.

♥ And I miss you naughty fella ♥

Farewell dinner

I had my farewell dinner yesterday at Quaywest, paid by and fully sponsored by Mr Liam Bradley himself.

Such a good employer, where to find?

I had my starter - Duck Salad.

And my main dish - 'Surf' n 'Turf'

A combination of steak and tiger prawns with spuds.

Looks super duper delicious no? Well done =D

And my side dish of saute mushroom. 

This is the first time in my life I had so much mushrooms!

And a Bacardi breezer to start off, a rose wine to sum it all up.

And that's us all having a nice dinner together.

Gonna miss you all tons!