Psychiatry Placement

Psychiatry placement

This placement took place in both Sheffield Northern General Hospital and Chesterfield Royal Hospital and involved an induction, placement and evaluation. The induction and evaluation contained talks from doctors who are specialists in the area of psychiatry, university students on life as a junior doctor and also talks about general application advice. The placement was provided by SOAMS.

Whilst on the actual placement I followed a psychiatry consultant for three days, this involved sitting in on the clinics he ran for the out patients to come to for check-ups after being discharged from the hospital. The wide range of patients he saw was astonishing where patients’ illnesses ranged from being bipolar or having OCD to those living with schizophrenia. This allowed me to gain a greater appreciation of the wide scope of mental illnesses that are prevalent in the local community of which I was unaware of before. This experience particularly showed me how the tone of voice used as a doctor will provoke different responses in patients, especially those with mental illnesses. This has helped me to adapt my tone and language complexity used to the particular patient to guarantee cooperation occurs; this is particularly important for a doctor otherwise the chances of a successful diagnosis are severely reduced.

Listening to the patient history of each case and looking on the computer system to see test results demonstrated to me the complexity of some patients’ situations. When incorporating all of the factors together, the medication and care required became rather intricate. Sound medical knowledge was needed to ensure that drugs don’t interact or cancel each other out. Clear care plans were put into place for each individual every six months to see the progress they have made and the medications they are on at the present. This safeguarding ensures that each doctor knows the exact situation of the patient.

On the second day, being in a hospital in-patient setting allowed me to appreciate the progress patients have made and the world they’re living in while they’re mentally ill. Questioning these patients and talking to them allowed me to see the clear triggers in each patient’s life as to why the mental illness began. The hospital secure unit also permitted me to talk to other members of the diverse medical crisis team which assign a carer and doctor to each patient alongside the discharge to protect both the individual and the family at the time they need help the most. The behavioural activation put into place by the consultant was apparent in changing the life the patients are living.

On the final day, along with an out-patient clinic, I attended a review meeting with all the members of the multidisciplinary team present to have an update on all the patients under their care. This allowed all members to be up to date with the situation of each patient in case of emergencies. This showed me how medical professionals work together and it ignited my desire to be part of a team and support each other. This meeting also showed me how each individual in the system was a necessity to provide the best care available for each patient. The OT’s, nurses and social workers were needed just as much as the doctors with their medical knowledge and the power to prescribe drugs.

Overall, this experience showed me the reality of living with a mental illness and the care and support needed by patients. The psychiatric care system was demonstrated to me and sparked an interest to study dementia as part of my EPQ.