Jo Beahan (MRCP)

Name : Jo Beahan (MRCP)
Employer : Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
University : University of Sheffield
Subject : MBChB
Graduated : 1995

I had never considered emergency medicine and did my best to avoid it until I had an A&E job during a two-year SHO position in general medicine. I really enjoyed the variety of cases, the acute medicine and the fact that I didn’t have to do ward rounds or outpatient clinics!

Working life

During a typical week, I work 30 hours, which is about 60 per cent of the full-time hours. I see patients, advise junior doctors on the management of patients and supervise the running of the department. A third of my weekly work involves being on call and I work a night shift every other week and one weekend in every five. In addition to these responsibilities, I teach medical students and emergency nurse practitioners. I am also studying towards a masters in medical education. The key skills I use include minor surgery, fracture manipulation and suturing as well as teamworking, communication and decision-making skills. Some people regard A&E as a glorified triage clinic. This is not true as we provide patients with the appropriate treatment as well as assessing their illness or injury.

Best and worst

In A&E you get to see a wide variety of patients and are given the chance to make a real difference to their lives. You never know what to expect at the start of a new day. The drawbacks are the unsociable hours, patients who can be aggressive or violent and being exposed to more bereavement than in other specialties.

Life outside work

I work as a flexible trainee and don’t think I could maintain a good work/life balance without this as I have two children under five. It can be a juggling act at times but working less than full time is a great help.

Most unforgettable moment

One of my patients was a man who had fallen 40 feet and had multiple injuries. I managed his treatment when he came into the emergency department and it was a great feeling to know that I’d helped him on his way to a full recovery.

Emergency medicine

Emergency medicine is the diagnosis and management of acute illness and injury. In this specialty, practitioners deal with patients of all age groups with a wide range of illnesses, both physical and behavioural. To get the best start in the specialty, it’s important to gain as much experience as you can in the following areas: acute medicine, anaesthetics, paediatrics, general surgery, orthopaedics and A&E. If you find it difficult to work under pressure and don’t like working unsocial hours, emergency medicine is not the specialty for you.