Medicine 2020 (part 2)

[Monkey2001]

This follows on from the first thread - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3380915-Medicine-2020

I don't think medical staff will stay well - they estimate at least 30% will be off sick currently. We've received a letter saying we may be asked to work outside our competences etc

Keele cancelled their offer holders day today. DD is booked to attend the one on the 4th April so she is very hopeful it will go ahead. I feel very sorry for our DC - all the worry and waiting and now, just when they should be having some things to enjoy, the worry of schools closing, friends/family/their own illness and whether A Levels will go ahead on schedule.
The worse case scenario for the wider picture is too much for me to take on board at the moment....

DS’s interview at Aberdeen next week cancelled.
They want to do six mini interviews via Skype instead

Oh hell @SleightOfMind - you might have thought of this already but I remember when I first started using Skype, i was a bit put off by seeing myself as I was talking (I am scarily animated and toss my head about a bit) so might be worth doing a few run throughs with him in that format - even getting the background right etc.
Wish him the very best of luck.

Hmmm, don't know whether MMI is better or worse by Skype, hope your ds not phased.

My daughter also has an interview with Aberdeen, tried on Saturday but their software went down. 6 MMI stations to co-ordinate and our broadband is unreliable up here in the Highlands. Pretty stressful but everyone's doing their best to manage this situation.

Feeling for everyone’s DCs having to do these Skype interviews under already stressful conditions. Wishing everyone luck.

Oh Ciancianese, that sounds awful. I’m sure they’ll take this into account when judging their performance.

DH and I often work remotely and have to Skype etc so DS has grown up with us doing this.
We’re running practice Skype interviews with him now but he can’t seem to stop comically scratching himself!
I’m going to have to parceltape his hands behind his back 😉

Also, I know there are quite a few healthcare families on this thread and I can’t imagine how things are right now.
Please put yourselves first and stay well.

We are practising social distancing at the moment and I'm bored.

Grateful that we arranged to see our F1 child before all this really took off. No leave can be booked in April, although previously booked leave can go ahead at the moment, that may change anytime. Talk of redeployment and makeshift wards. All teaching cancelled, conferences cancelled, graduation ceremonies cancelled. Talk online that final year students may be drafted in later to help.

I send my child coronavirus jokes and comments like - well if some of the consultants die you'll get a consultant post faster. Medics are used to black humour.

As for non-supportive threads just think this and ignore - if I wanted to listen to an arse I'd fart. (This was said online about Farage and I wouldnt normally be as crude but well, this is mumsnet and it's appropriate).

Hope all those still wanting to get a place manage it.

This is all so odd. The talk of how schools will manage reminds me of the caretaker strike in 1979 when my school seemed to be closed for a very long time. I was annoyed that the teacher was a friend of my mum's so brought us work! I don't know what they will work out for people doing exams, not such a major issue for my Y11 DS2 as it is for all of you with Y13s.

I second the pat on the back for health workers. Hope a vaccine is developed soon.

My final year medic child has had their final clinical exams cancelled and rumour has it that they will all have their provisional registration fast tracked to be able to help - though they assure me it won't be with CV patients but with the massive gaps left in 'normal' health provision by more senior doctors being redeployed to coronavirus work.
I worry for them all.

Two of my DC are medical professionals. My F2 is about to start his rotation in A&E. I tend not to think too hard about their work, the same way I try hard not to think about where my DC are late at night in London when they're out and about. On the basis that thinking won't help them or make a difference - but I have to consciously not let my mind go there (occasionally it does).

Wonder what will happen with A levels ?

Still being told in Scotland that exams will go ahead. Hope they don’t cancel & go on prelim results, would be a disaster for add.

Dd school is saying they will go ahead. I guess if school is closed to other pupils they will be able to space them out. Certainly makes things harder for more disadvanted students though if school closes early and they do not have the same access to online resources etc. But honestly I don't think anyone knows yet - only certainty is they need to continue preparing until they know one way or the other officially.

DS2's school now closed for all but Y11, Y13 and children of health workers. It is all feeling surreal. Feeling sorry for current students, both university students who have been sent home early and Y13s facing so much uncertainty. DS lucky to be on a gap year.

....... although gap year students planning to travel or already traveling have

..... been hard hit

I wish our schools were closed except for exam years and key staff children. I have 5 across 3 different secondaries (don't ask) and I only sent the 2 in exam years in today. I am in the vunerable group. One dd is supposed to have a dpt booster tomorrow. I kept her home today. Dd (17) has finished the syllabus and would be ok to stay home ds (16) hasn't. It's hard to know what to do for the best.

If DC can work at home effectively and has completed the syllabus I would encourage them to stay at home. DS2 would not do much work if sent home so I am glad they have kept Y11 in!

@Monkey would you be willing to share what part of the country you are from? My DD has been told that school will stay open until they are advised to close but they are unsure what will happen with exams. Been advised to get their heads down and revise as may still be on. Courses still not finished.

@Hopefulmed we are in Bristol. Most schools seem to still be going, although some of the lower years have shut. Most people seem to expect schools to close by the end of the week.

Thank you @monkey
Interesting to hear there is talk of closing at the end of the week. As with everything at the moment looks like there will be a lot of wait and see.

Ughhh, DS2 school now closed, I am now expecting all schools to close by Friday. Guardian talking of deferring GCSEs and A levels to 2021!! I wonder if they will try to defer academic life by a term so that we would move to academic years being calendar years. Current undergraduates are all missing out on more than a term.

What a big mess!!!!