Apothecary 2020

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was firstly that the evidence from the scientific journals was not robust and secondly, misinformation was evident throughout the media. Anxiety had to be managed predominantly with communication, and we had to consider the perceived risk, and to make shared decisions with patients. In London some boroughs set up GP COVID-19 Hubs, for self-isolating patients requiring medical attention to be seen face-to-face. I’d approximate that for every three hour shift I worked, one patient was ill enough to be admitted to hospital. A middle-aged gentleman collapsed in the car park. He was weak. We measured his oxygen saturation level at 66%, we gave oxygen immediately and called an ambulance. The senior GP had a conversation urgently with the patient’s daughter-in-law, explaining the prognosis was poor. She was distraught, she already had relatives who had succumbed to the disease. This was my first insight to the multi-generational consequences of the virus. Whilst working on the Geriatrics ward in a tertiary care hospital I scrolled through the Intensive Care list, to get a grasp of the demographic of patients requiring ventilation namely, ethnic middle-aged men. I hovered back up to a particular name. It was the gentleman from the hub. I was relieved to hear he was being discharged soon. Amongst the successes, during the peak, it was heartbreaking to keep vulnerable, elderly patients (due to infection control ‘no visitor’ policies) from their loved ones to die in fear, isolated, with hardly anyone to listen except staff who are merely eyes peeking above a mask. The ability to emote and empathize was diminished. CPAP machines and ventilators were limited, and Consultants had to make painful resource allocation decisions. The front-line workforce was subject to systematic factors causing moral injury (psychological distress resulting from actions violating one’s beliefs, values or ethical codes). If felt like the systematic and logistical factors were what diverged the workforce from saving lives. At the time, I found comfort that this catastrophe wasn’t anthropogenic, as there was evident social cohesion on the ground. Many would relieve the weight of others’ tasks, as the staff hierarchy flattened. Projected psychological stressors had been noted at induction to the Nightingale hospital, essential for the domestic and healthcare assistant staff, who nobly volunteered despite many of them never working in a clinical setting before. It felt like a novelty, roaming around a convention centre which mimicked an airport terminal, on our breaks. Reality hit inside the boardroom, fashioned into an intensive care unit, with patients’ bodies intertwined with tubes and machinery. Many of their faces swollen and sore from proning (positioning the body to lie flat on the stomach, to enhance dorsal lung air entry maximising oxygenation potential). In the early morning hours, we would theorise whether clinical features were due to the virus or just the fact the physiology of these patients were pushed to their very extreme, as noted on blood gases often showing values incompatible with life. Looking up, the corrugated silver roof extended beyond my visual field, I felt grateful that the units beneath were not required for use. Weeks on, I am grateful for a hiatus to spend time with someone I share beliefs and goals with, who visited with impeccable timing. He is a mirror that I reflect back in (comprised of loyalty, empathy and courage), allowing recognition of areas to address and the furthering of accomplishments. Writing this now, working in the Paediatric Emergency Department, the virus is attending in a polite manner most recently, found incidentally in a teenager with an ankle fracture and amongst positive parents accompanying their feverish child. The political climate suggests unrest, and more time required. But scientific research has already offered us medication breakthroughs (Dexamethasone and Remdesivir are now being used as standard-ofcare) and vaccine developments progress in record time. We remain reactive and endeavour more tools to be deployed to allow us to practice with grace. With time will we be able to answer questions of our close ones definitively? Safia Akhtar Conflict & Catastrophe Medicine (CCM) student GP Specialty Trainee doctor 39
The Master’s Fund Never has our charity been more needed. This year has seen a huge decline in those jobs that medical students do whilst in their early years to pay their fees and feed and clothe themselves. The Master’s Fund supports one medical and/or pharmacy student at each of the medical schools in England and Wales. This year we were able to increase each award to £1500. A recent email from a student who qualified last year said ‘your grant helped me through a difficult patch and I am beginning my first job. I hope to become an Obs/Gynae specialist and improve the provision of women’s healthcare in developing countries. The Society’s support meant a lot to me. If there is anything I can do in future to help the Society please let me know’. We are looking into ways in which we can supply some emotional support and well as financial. But every year there are very deserving candidates that we are not able to help. There is much good to report. Our membership donations have increased substantially. Following the highly successful opera evening just a year ago, which raised £11,000 we have had special donations from members – one sent a cheque following a win from The Society’s Lottery. Another delivered a donation after hearing the talk from a Tim Baker, a recipient of the Fund. We have received legacies. Audrey Tucker, amongst other bequests, left £800,000 to us. Her Will critically defined her wish that it be spent on The Society’s charity. So our income is from our donations, our inheritances, and the income generated by our investments. The investments are the product of members giving over the generations – some during life and some at death. I thank you for your interest in and giving to the charity. Over the last year or two members are talking to me much more about the charity. Please be in touch if you have any advice or can give any additional support. When we are allowed, we will have a further special event at the Hall – not only to fundraise but to promote the profile of the Master’s Fund and link its supporters together. My ambition is that in future we might be able to increase the individual support for each student and that we might sponsor more than one student per school. I trust you will continue with your regular annual gifts but also include us in your will. Dr Simon Bailey yeliabz@yahoo.co.uk 07719373538 40
Page 1 and 2: 2020
Page 3 and 4: Contents The Court and the Livery C
Page 5 and 6: Editorial 2020 will go down in hist
Page 7 and 8: ever tasted. Both dinners were exce
Page 9 and 10: liberation Bergen-Belsen from 500 t
Page 11 and 12: In the last year the staff team has
Page 13 and 14: Sir George Clark (1972). A History
Page 15 and 16: Treasurer’s Report It is almost a
Page 17 and 18: apothecaries and surgeons are dead
Page 19 and 20: other factors? Certainly, documents
Page 21 and 22: The Ethics of Care Home Visiting in
Page 23 and 24: Registrar’s Report Cornelius O’
Page 25 and 26: Dr Jeremy Howick, John Locke Lectur
Page 27 and 28: The Parlour Stained Glass Windows P
Page 29 and 30: Goddess), could lead the souls of d
Page 31 and 32: Livery Committee Chairman’s Repor
Page 33 and 34: The Club’s founders commissioned
Page 35 and 36: on making a return visit next year
Page 37 and 38: Curator’s Notes This year has nat
Page 39 and 40: Another very commendable initiative
Page 41: Faculty of Conflict and Catastrophe
Page 45 and 46: Friends of the Archives The Friends
Page 47 and 48: Society Contacts Website: www.apoth

Apothecary 2020

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