The Distraught Patient

The patient was clearly distraught when I first saw him. That was unfortunately at the end of a very busy ward round. At that stage, I was not able to really concentrate. As the resident was describing the case, I remember asking myself why is it that our outlaying patients are seen last and get less optimal care than our patients in the renal ward? I made a mental resolution to start the next ward round by visiting the outlaying patients first.