That an opthalmologist looking after patients with macular degeneration would want to be able to keep treating them so they don’t go blind while helping on frontline with covid-19 response is in keeping with our duty of care as doctors

That @IrishTimes would misrepresent that(1) https://twitter.com/rheum2improve/status/1247275058294403075

(2) is unfortunately something we have come to expect as Consultants

It’s as if for some people the possibility of admitting their original take was wrong is so threatening to their being

They must consistently peddle false narrative to avoid the reality that they were wrong

(3) as a doctor we can never do this

Medicine keeps you humble

You live & work every day knowing that even when practicing at the top of your game

There is an inherent error rate

It is an art not an exact science

So we always have to keep our minds open to changing when

(4) the evidence shifts

It’s one of the fundamental aspects to the patient doctor relationship

That we can admit uncertainty & acknowledge the limitation of every test, every intervention

(5) at a time when we are literally risking our lives for our patients

It would be nice to think the lad on the computer cocooned at home would be fair

But we haven’t time to waste on bitterness or taking in that negativity

Our patients need us focussed on the task at hand

(6) I work only in public hospitals & it’s my intention to stay in the public sector

Listening to my colleagues in the private sector this past week they have been very clear: they want to play their part & they don’t want harm to come to their existing patients

(7) seeing them pilloried, mocked & othered by people who will never put on PPE & walk into the line of fire themselves is hugely frustrating

Also disappointed to see people in power leak info to media about contracts without the respect to share those contracts with the people

(8) expected to sign them

No leadership in that

No collaboration

No psychological safety

For this to work we need all 3

(9) non Ebola mortality goes up 4 fold during Ebola outbreaks

If your eyes are focused only on COVID-19 & not on an integrated response that includes addressing urgent medical conditions now & chronic conditions now & in aggressive targetted fashion as we come out of covid-19

(10) along with finally addressing capacity in our health service so that everyone has access to care within a max of 6 weeks

You are missing the wood from the trees

So crack on othering consultants & selling old rope

We are too busy in the arena to give you a second thought

(11) we always step up

Despite having the lowest Consultant numbers in EU

Which makes us personally vulnerable in this fight

We step up every time

We know our values

We know what we bring

No amount of spin can undermine substance

We are substance

@Rheum2improve @Antcon7062 @IHCA_IE @IMO_IRL @PickleQueenT1 @DrTobyGilbert @Dr_RPM @DrABurke @MijkBoyle @OisinO_Connell @samejw @MrTonyMoloney1 @coconutbuns @mairenihuigin @russellnoirin @keelinodonoghue @otuathail @ritakj @SimonHarrisTD @DonnellyStephen @loreillysf @CcoHse