Bethan J Profile picture
Neurosurgeon turned General Practitioner. Taking the scenic route through medicine. @4_MentalHealth_ Expert Reference Group. AuDHD. Welsh. She/her.
Nov 16, 2023 11 tweets 2 min read
Today, a senior colleague (in a pastoral/supervisory role) subtly took me to one side and in the most normal & natural way possible, gently commented to me about my appearance/how I was presenting myself lately.

It wasn’t made out to be a big deal and it was complimentary, 1/11 but most importantly, it was a comment of genuine concern as they enquired how I was doing.

Not just a pleasantry, but how I was REALLY doing.

They had somehow recognised that how I was trying to conduct myself/my appearance was maybe being used as a type of “armour” or 2/11
Jan 4, 2023 5 tweets 2 min read
There’s been some trolling since my thread yest; people who think they’ve had their “gotcha” moment, telling me it’s already all over the media .

That argument doesn’t wash. Especially when you still have rhetoric like this

You really think you’re always getting the bigger pic? A screenshot of an article online. The article is from Tuesd The government will get stuff out in the media to try and divert attention; like this for example.

It’s incredibly out of touch!
Jan 2, 2023 90 tweets 29 min read
Many are not aware of the state of the NHS at the mo.

It's not their fault; there's little in the media.

If you know where to look/have witnessed this, then you'll know. But that's not enough.

So; a 🧵 of tweets showcasing reality.

Please share/RT to those who may not know. One can't turn a blind eye (as the government is trying their damned hardest to do).

It's not safe.
We need uproar.
We need revolution.

We do not wish for it to be this way but people need to know.

(🧵 will be continuously updated inc articles + voices from HCPs themselves)
Nov 11, 2022 29 tweets 5 min read
Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) should definitely be on your differentials list with this presentation!

It’s a (often) subtly progressive neurological degenerative condition that I feel can be easily missed…

Hence: tweetorial! Thread 🧵 1/ I heard of a case diagnosed as bilateral carpal tunnel, awaiting ortho clinic appt.

Ended up under geris due to new falls/suddenly not managing at home (v. independent prior).

MRI C-spine confirmed diagnosis & patient transferred for specialist Ax/surgery. So… 2/
Apr 14, 2022 19 tweets 4 min read
As the pandemic and then 1st lockdown started I should’ve been starting my PhD - I was so excited.

But of course, that was then not to be. NHSE requested us to return to clinical practice for obvious reasons and so I did. Gladly.

I couldn’t sit by and watch this… I was redeployed to paediatric neurosurgery; the last clinical post I had just left as a registrar.

We were a small team, and if any of us got covid, it had the potential to wipe the entirety of the team out - a team responsible for providing a tertiary service to a large part