"Asclepius" by Aleena Khan
Asclepius was not a saviour
But an example for our behaviour
We strive to do our best
Serving humanity, a noble quest
Lies ahead are daunting tasks
Our true emotions we hope to mask
You never know who will come through the door
Unexpected, that’s for sure!
Case-by-case, I have no time to rest
Eyes on the clock, I must confess
From cradle to grave, patiently waiting on the chair
Understand – I’m no Atlas – please don’t compare
I see faces familiar, old and new
Health – both mine and yours – always in review
Caught in a political tug of war
Left to pick up the pieces from the floor
Blue ties visit clinics and with patients they engage
More than anything, the doctors they enrage!
Alone I am not, although it may seem
It can be hard to remember, we are part of a team
Our job is to help you feel better
But that is not our only endeavour
Break for coffee is overdue
Lunchtime and still not halfway through
We reach the end of the day, against all odds
Surely Asclepius was a mere mortal amongst the gods?
Reflection
I open the poem with ‘Asclepius was not a saviour’, a doubtful view of a historical perspective of doctors as being omniscient and superhuman. To be a good GP one needs to acknowledge their limitations and be open to listening and collaborating rather than being paternalistic or authoritative. The second stanza describes the uncertainty that GPs face as well as the unpredictability of the job. In the third stanza I describe ‘case-by-case, I have no time to rest’ – a double entendre- referring to how a 10-minute consultation leads to more questions and the lack of downtime for GPs. I then refer to another Greek god, Atlas, who famously held up the world, illustrating the vastness of the tasks a doctor must juggle and the feeling of having the weight of the world on your shoulders.
‘Health – both mine and yours- always in review’ is a reflection that a doctor is not going to be desensitised by what they see. Before the module, I assumed this would be a necessity, allowing doctors to do their jobs however, after discussions with my colleagues, I realised the importance of remaining sensitive, ultimately allowing you to be empathetic and therefore a better doctor. This is a complete 180-degree shift in my thinking and has let me broaden my understanding and think from multiple views and also develop thinking critically.
The next stanza then aims to breakdown the political frustrations of healthcare professionals. Before the module, I was more ignorant to how closely the limitations of primary care are tied with political distress, perhaps due to the negative portrayal in the media about GPs. The ‘tug of war’ refers to the question whether the NHS can be taken out of the political football to create an effective long-term solution. This is an avenue of ideas I had not even been introduced to before, leading me to be more politically aware and engaged.
I end the poem with the question ‘Surely Asclepius was a mere mortal amongst the gods?’ going back to that initial doubtful image of doctors as all-knowing and ultimately trying to humanise and demystify the role of a doctor.