This was an issue I’ve realised while working as a HO, but things didn’t seem too obvious till my more recent promotion and stint back into the wards.

I realised that as an MO, people do treat you differently, they request you to help them rather than order you to set a plug. It’s kind of interesting but it’s a much better feeling and I am encouraged to respond in kind.

Anyway, I’ve heard of a few unpleasant incidents from colleagues about certain senior MOs (or maybe even not-so-senior) MOs who behave in a rather supercilious manner, as if they could treat their more junior MOs with disdain just because they had more experience, etc.

In contrast I’ve met numerous registrars and consultants who are not only patient in listening to our sometimes bumbling blue letters or explanations but are also patient enough to correct us where we go wrong, to offer us greater insight and guidance.

During my days in ED I’ve met registrars and even consultants who are patient in letting me pass over the cases though they already know part of the history. Yet I’ve met a senior MO who has yelled at my nurse to pass him the case file and waved me away without looking at me and saying, ‘I already know this care, you can go.’

Having an MRCP or other post grads degrees under your belt mean nothing, if you aren’t able to command respect from your colleagues.