First published on 03 May 2022
A group of flight attendants were hovering close to the toilet as I boarded a British Airways flight recently. The object of their attention, a gentleman in overalls, sporting an improbably yellow hazard vest and carrying an ominous green hose […]
First published on 01 Apr 2022
I was talking to Ian Penman, our VP for Endoscopy, who has led so much of our response during the COVID pandemic. Considering our current predicament, with rising cases and struggling hospitals, he said succinctly, “It’s like we are stuck […]
First published on 16 Mar 2022
COVID liberation day has come and gone. In England at least, all COVID restrictions have been lifted and the public is expected to “do the right thing”. Unfortunately, nobody seems to have informed the virus. Thankfully, COVID-19 does appear to […]
First published on 08 Feb 2022
March is a significant anniversary. On 1st March 2020, we decided to delay the Annual Conference because a new virus; SARS-CoV-2 appeared to be more significant than we had initially thought. I will not go over what followed. Delaying a […]
First published on 21 Dec 2021
On hearing the first Noddy of Christmas It was probably mid-November. I was on a rare shopping trip in town when the sound of the congenial Mr Holder came ringing through the mall. Slade’s, “Merry Christmas Everybody” always provides a […]
First published on 30 Nov 2021
Informed consent underpins all of our clinical activity. This blog is important and concerns consent for procedures. Earlier this year, the BSG received a letter from the General Medical Council detailing an enquiry that they had received, which concerned consent […]
First published on 29 Nov 2021
The BSG Annual Conference is one of the highlights of the Society’s year. It is a great opportunity to meet colleagues, network, conduct business, and get the most up-to-date research and professional knowledge. This year it was virtual as BSG […]
First published on 03 Nov 2021
Out of COVID comes strength. Time flies when you are enjoying yourself. It unfortunately follows that time also flies when you are overstretched, overworked, and sometimes deprived of any space to think. COVID has extracted a significant price for everyone on […]
First published on 26 Oct 2021
Under the mask, not everyone is smiling. Last week, I went on call for the wards for the first time in nearly two years. Just before people wonder how I managed to get such a good rota, let me explain that […]
First published on 10 Sep 2021
– hopefully into the BSG diary, shortly. One of the BSG’s current projects is W3: Workforce, Workload, Worklife. We were on track to take this forward in 2020, but as BSG members probably noticed, 2020 was not a normal year. For most BSG members, it […]
First published on 05 Aug 2021
In England last year, the total volume of duty paid alcohol (or “booze” to you and me) was 1.2% less than the year before the COVID pandemic, which is good news. Some of us, at least, are drinking less. The […]
First published on 06 Jul 2021
My cousin Chris, who lives in the USA, is unusual, by which I do not mean in any sense “strange”. He is the most “English” person I know, but is a professor of German studies in Texas, at a university […]