A 2014 satire recasts the emergency department four-hour target as a fictional drug, ‘Targetine’. Iain Beardsell uses the analogy to question the evidence behind performance targets, their unintended effects on priorities and staff wellbeing, and whether patient-centred outcomes receive the same scrutiny as compliance.
The Ignored Drug Scandal in Emergency Medicine Read More
What are you actually trying to achieve in your career, and does your daily work move you towards it? This reflection applies Stephen Covey’s second habit to medicine, exploring personal and team mission statements, competing priorities and leadership guided by principles.
Stephen Covey and medical leadership part 2: Begin with the end in mind Read More
After being described as intimidating, Sarah Payne reflects on the gap between how she sees herself and how colleagues perceive her. Drawing on her experiences and research on gender stereotypes, she explores the tension between warmth, competence and assertiveness for women working in emergency medicine.
Am I intimidating? Sarah Payne guest blogs at St.Emlyn’s Read More
What happens when colleagues, relatives or public figures arrive expecting different treatment in the emergency department? This reflection examines fairness, pressure to prioritise, over-investigation and incomplete assessment, and considers how teams can handle personal connections while keeping care consistent with clinical need.
There’s a vIP in the ED at St.Emlyn’s Read More
A report from Joe Lex’s visit to St Emlyn’s in April 2013 as its first visiting professor. The evening brought emergency physicians and students together to hear experiences from his career and reflect on the values and principles behind their work.
Joe Lex at St. Emlyn’s Read More
A clear referral starts before the phone call. Iain Beardsell explains how to prepare a concise SBAR handover, state what the patient needs and manage difficult conversations with inpatient teams while maintaining honesty, respect and professional relationships.
Making a referral – an underappreciated skill in Emergency Medicine Read More
Welcome to Virchester, home of St Emlyn’s virtual hospital. This tongue-in-cheek introduction explains its imagined setting, staff and services, using a fictional emergency department to reflect familiar challenges in clinical care, teaching and hospital life.
What, where and who is St.Emlyn’s? Read More
What can Sunday league football teach us about leading a resuscitation team? Rick Body draws parallels between changing team line-ups, assigning roles, encouraging communication and adapting under pressure, with reflection and debriefing helping the team prepare for next time.
Teamwork in Resus: Just Like Football? Read More
