Blog

Diversity and Inclusion

The Striking the Balance annual meeting is organised by the Women in ICM committee and aims to champion those none-clinical skills relating to human interactions that we use every day. Arguably these skills are more important and used more frequently than some of our more clinically based technical skills that we tend to focus on for our continuing professional development, as they form the basis for our interactions as a clinician...


Written by Dr Sarah Marsh

The background low level internal monologue that is common to many trainees is a familiar sound track; ‘The ICM trainee internal podcast’: ‘You can’t have it all, ‘How do I juggle my work life balance?’, ‘I’m a bad parent, mother, father, trainee’ ‘I’m not spending enough time at work vs I’m not spending enough time with my children/partner/family/friends’ ‘Will I get a consultant job?’, ‘Am I good enough?’ ‘imposter syndrome, imposter syndrome, imposter syndrome’ ...


Written by Dr Jeanie Worthington and Dr Inthu Kangesan

Threat or opportunity for academics?

As intensivists, we must always be striving to familiarise ourselves with the current literature. But what if the current literature is being written by an AI? Would we be able to tell? Would it matter?

Written by Dr James Harper

I’m Abi and I work as a Cardiac Physiologist. I had never heard of a cardiac physiologist during my time at school. As a teenager I travelled the world to pursue a career in the very niche sport of table tennis also known as ping pong, which meant my studies took a bit of a side line and consequently I didn’t have much in the way of a ‘traditional’ career path...

Written by Abigail Gowland

What makes a successful ward round ?

Critical Care is a complex setting, with complex teams, and complex patients. As a Critical Care Consultant, leading the ward round, we’re responsible for orchestrating efficient, effective and nuanced care for our patients. The team works together towards shared outcome goals for our patients. But how can we make sure we’re delivering a “good” ward round? What does that really mean?

Written by Dr Gilly Fleming

From Unicorns to Zebras and eventually Black Beauty.

The return of in person meetings and assessments has brought back the opportunity to network with colleagues. I recently had the opportunity capitalise on this and meet an exceptional group of women who are changing the narrative and challenging the historical view of the ICM Workforce...

Written by Dr Sekina Bakare

Medical education has changed massively in recent years in response to a wide variety of challenges. Initially established in aviation, simulation training, as an education tool in medicine, was first pioneered and developed in the field of anaesthesia. More than half a century later, the role of simulation in anaesthesia, emergency, and intensive care medicine has been well established...

Written by Dr Dave Melia and Dr Lina Grauslyte

Can you really balance both?

I made the assumption when I started work, that having children would be easy, that they would just fit in around my career. I never wanted to be a stay-at-home parent and I have always had ambitious career goals. When I started work though and my family grew, I encountered many challenges, and I have wondered, is it really possible to have your career and family too?

Written by Dr Hannah Wilkin-Crowe

The bright, outgoing and very competent foundation doctor working with me that day and I were engaging in some chit-chat whilst we waited for the archaic NHS IT system to load.

Written by Dr Gilly Fleming

International Women’s Day (IWD) imagines a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination, one that's diverse, equitable and inclusive and where difference is valued and celebrated. Nice words, but one person can’t do much to make a difference can they? It’s down to the people with power to make the big changes right?

Written by Dr Daniele Bryden