Rather ominously, a senior NHS executive has apparently declared that this time of year is known as the”killing season.” The first week in August is when the new junior medics fresh out of university try on their doctor’s coats (like the fun fancy dress ones in our Doctors and Nurses costumes shop) for the first time and are let loose on real live patients in hospital wards all over the country, and is widely regarded as the worst possible time to take poorly.
This isn’t just an old wives tale either. Statistically during the first few days of the new doctors’ rotation in August the death rate actually rises by something like 6%, which is generally attributed to inexperienced and occasionally inept decisions being made by the new juniors without adequate supervision from senior medics.
What a scary thought! Definitely time to stock up on the vitamins and take extra care to avoid accidents until the baby doctors find their feet.
By Jennie Humes
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