大象传媒

Two people at different stages of their careers, meet for the first time to share and contrast their experiences of working in the health service. Revealing and surprising insights emerge as the participants compare the pressures of the past with those we hear so much about today. In this episode we hear from two anaesthetists. The profession is largest group of doctors working in hospitals. As well as putting patients to sleep during operations, you鈥檒l find them working in intensive care units, in accident and emergency and administering epidural pain relief for mothers in labour wards. Mike, a semi-retired consultant anaesthetist, talks about what he describes as the dangerously long hours he used to do as a junior doctor working non-stop from Friday evening to Monday morning. Registrar anaesthetist Giovanna is pleased those extended on call weekend shifts are a thing of the past. However, she shares her frustrations as she feels hospitals are struggling to make progress dealing with the huge surgical waiting lists, built up during the pandemic.

Produced by Matt Toulson and Nick Holland
Editor: Clare Fordham
Sound: Graham Puddifoot
Production Coordinators Sabine Schereck and Maria Ogundele