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Doctors have a long and proud history of involvement in the arts. \u00a0There are classic tomes published by doctors – The House of God (Shem), Sherlock Holmes (Conan Doyle), The Story of San Michele (Munthe), The Master and Margarita (Bulgakov). \u00a0 The profession has also produced a number of playwrights (Chekov), and poets (Keats).<\/p>\n
This exploration of the human condition through artistic expression is perhaps to be expected from a profession that is witness to human suffering, joy and grief on an almost daily basis. Reflective practice is a hotly debated aspect of medical training at the moment, with many trainees railing against the constrained forms of reflection permitted in official log-books and e-portfolios.<\/p>\n
Dr Alice Ong of the University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire submitted the following post, and joins a long a proud tradition of physicians who have turned to the arts to mark an aspect of their work.<\/p>\n
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Memories of Arnhem:<\/strong><\/p>\n Looking after people when they are vulnerable is a great privilege of working in healthcare. \u00a0As a geriatrician, I consider holistic care very important, and find the lives of patients as\u00a0interesting as their medical conditions. Over recent years we have lost those who saw active\u00a0service during World War One, bringing World War Two veterans sharply into focus.<\/em><\/p>\n A\u00a0recent gentleman was one of a handful who can remember anything about his time during\u00a0World War Two. He and others of his age represent a different era, a generation of\u00a0individuals who we will sadly lose as time passes. During a routine ward round, we talked\u00a0about life. He informed me that he was with the 11th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment,\u00a0and that he parachuted into Arnhem in 1943.<\/em><\/p>\n I asked if he had ever written anything about\u00a0his experiences of this period. He would have liked to, but somehow he did not feel able. I\u00a0looked into his eyes. I could see he was looking back into his memory box. I could see pain\u00a0and anguish. A pair of eyes, that seemed to flick back to the past. Clearly he had seen\u00a0horrendous things at a young age. His eyes came back to the present, and soon we were\u00a0talking about his sore knee again. I decided to write this poem for him, and for those of his\u00a0generation, as a final salute to a departing generation. Poetry was something I felt could\u00a0best capture the reflection I could see in his eyes, whilst they flickered between past and\u00a0present during our brief conversation. Although the past was behind him as distant echoes,\u00a0the memories were still vividly in the present.<\/em><\/p>\n Arnhem, it was Arnhem.<\/strong> Parachutes, many parachutes.<\/strong> Friends, many friends.<\/strong> Memories, buried memories.<\/strong> Gunfire, sounds of gunfire.<\/strong> Farewell, fondest farewell.<\/strong> Doctors have a long and proud history of involvement in the arts. \u00a0There are classic tomes published by doctors – The House of God (Shem), Sherlock Holmes (Conan Doyle), The Story of San Michele (Munthe), The Master and Margarita (Bulgakov). \u00a0 The profession has also produced a number of playwrights (Chekov), and poets (Keats). This […]<\/p>\n
\nWe got the news, just not<\/strong>
\nLong before, the drop.<\/strong>
\nUs the 11 th Battalion.<\/strong>
\nOur turn, our turn.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWere we lads, quite ready<\/strong>
\nTo jump, guns poised?<\/strong>
\nUs the 11th Battalion.<\/strong>
\nOur turn, our turn.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWe lost many, in battle<\/strong>
\nAround Arnhem, years ago.<\/strong>
\nUs the 11th Battalion.<\/strong>
\nOur turn, our turn.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWe were scared, but fought<\/strong>
\nSo bravely, without fear.<\/strong>
\nUs the 11th Battalion.<\/strong>
\nOur turn, our turn.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWe can see, the smoke<\/strong>
\nAll around, of grenades.<\/strong>
\nUs the 11th Battalion.<\/strong>
\nOur turn, our turn.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWe are old, and lived<\/strong>
\nA life, friends missed.<\/strong>
\nUs the 11th Battalion.<\/strong>
\nOur turn, our turn.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"