The most recent addition

A long and varied day. Started with a meeting with some of the psychiatrists about planning for the future. A mixture of frustration and hope came from that.

Then an interview of an applicant for a position as a psychiatrist in our unit.  Such a bright interested and thoughtful person, who has an academic approach to her work. Just what we need. As she is applying from another country, there will be hoops to jump through and therefore delays (frustration), and excitement that here is an applicant who could lead positive developments in our service (hope).

Then joined the weekly MDT meeting for the team I am covering a colleague's absence from until end of January. With a number of the patients we seem to be going in circles (frustration), and for a man seen yesterday, the change of treatment has been associated with significant improvement (hope). 

This afternoon a meeting with the Duly Authorised Officers who talked about the frustrations of dealing with Police in their jobs. A number of issues about collaborative work that I need to take to the next Police liaison meeting. 

And then finished with another meeting with two colleagues about ways to try and increase the sense of engagement in our group of psychiatrists. Some excellent ideas, giving me hope that things can and will improve.

All this interspersed with patient review, and dealing with Mental Health Act papers. A day which began with a sense mainly of frustration, and ended with hope predominant. And I managed to ride home during a break in the rain. On the way I stopped to take a picture of the latest and tallest apartment block on this section of Great North Road.