Common things are common

It was my first day on the intensive care unit which made the lessons all the more memorable.

I had been asked to assess a patient who had recently been discharged back to the ward. I delegated the task to a senior house officer (SHO) explaining that he should assess the patient's condition and need for intensive care.

Half an hour later he telephoned. After describing the patient's condition he concluded that the patient would benefit from more care than the ward could provide. As our hospital has no high dependency unit for such patients an intensive care admission was required. I joined the SHO on the ward to assess the patient and to assess his clinical judgment.

From the end of the bed I saw a man who seemed to be in his late 60s …