Meet Junior Doctor Lucy: 'I'm passionate about wanting to do medicine'
Post categories: Documentaries,ÌýJunior Doctors: Your Life in Their Hands
| 10:43 UK time, Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Getting Involved
When the opportunity to take part in Junior Doctors: Your Life in Their Hands came up, it was one I felt I couldn't pass by - how often are you approached to take part in a television series?! It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance and my background, having a dad who works in broadcasting, meant I had always had an interest in the media. It was something which captured and excited me, so I had to do it - that's the kind of person I am. Obviously, there was the fear that it might be too much pressure alongside starting work as a junior doctor, and the fear that every little mistake I made would be out there for the world to see. In all honesty, I was terrified and daunted by the prospect of my first day as it was, so why on earth I thought having cameras capture my first moments was a good idea, I'll never know!
It's Personal...
I'm passionate about wanting to do medicine for very personal reasons - my youngest sister has an inherited disease called Cystic Fibrosis. I remember vividly when she was diagnosed - turning blue and being rushed into hospital, wired up to machines. The doctors and nurses who cared for her then saved her life and this had a huge impact on me. I grew up helping with her daily treatment, and the more I saw her benefit from the care she received the more inspired I felt to follow a career which would enable me to do the same for others. I'm still guilty of nudging her to do her treatment now - even though she's nearly 20 and can do it all herself - that's big sisters for you! Taking part in the series, I thought, might enable me to raise some awareness of the disease, and the difficulties faced by those who have it, as well as the life it is possible to lead when well.
Coping with the Cameras
My fears about the pressure of the cameras were soon put to rest. In fact, when the filming was finished, and the cameras left us after several months of seeing them everyday, it actually felt strange to be working without them. After all, I had spent the first minutes and days of a very important and stressful time with them by my side, and enjoyed every second. The filming was great fun; I had a brilliant camera crew, who I became good friends with. During those times when I was working by myself with the potential of feeling lonely, I always had people to natter to. And then, there were the times when talking about an experience, especially a difficult one, was very therapeutic. We had lots of laughs on the ward, especially initially, when everyone was afraid of the camera - I couldn't be more thankful though for the time and patience my colleagues demonstrated throughout, even from day one when none of them knew me.
I'm so glad I took part - there are not many junior doctors out there who are lucky enough to have those first few memories of their working lives immortalised on film!
Lucy Holmes features in Junior Doctors: Your Life in Their Hands which starts tonight at 9pm.
Add your comment.
When the opportunity to take part in Junior Doctors: Your Life in Their Hands came up, it was one I felt I couldn't pass by - how often are you approached to take part in a television series?! It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance and my background, having a dad who works in broadcasting, meant I had always had an interest in the media. It was something which captured and excited me, so I had to do it - that's the kind of person I am. Obviously, there was the fear that it might be too much pressure alongside starting work as a junior doctor, and the fear that every little mistake I made would be out there for the world to see. In all honesty, I was terrified and daunted by the prospect of my first day as it was, so why on earth I thought having cameras capture my first moments was a good idea, I'll never know!
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It's Personal...
I'm passionate about wanting to do medicine for very personal reasons - my youngest sister has an inherited disease called Cystic Fibrosis. I remember vividly when she was diagnosed - turning blue and being rushed into hospital, wired up to machines. The doctors and nurses who cared for her then saved her life and this had a huge impact on me. I grew up helping with her daily treatment, and the more I saw her benefit from the care she received the more inspired I felt to follow a career which would enable me to do the same for others. I'm still guilty of nudging her to do her treatment now - even though she's nearly 20 and can do it all herself - that's big sisters for you! Taking part in the series, I thought, might enable me to raise some awareness of the disease, and the difficulties faced by those who have it, as well as the life it is possible to lead when well.
Lucy Holmes in Junior Doctors: Your Life in Their Hands
My fears about the pressure of the cameras were soon put to rest. In fact, when the filming was finished, and the cameras left us after several months of seeing them everyday, it actually felt strange to be working without them. After all, I had spent the first minutes and days of a very important and stressful time with them by my side, and enjoyed every second. The filming was great fun; I had a brilliant camera crew, who I became good friends with. During those times when I was working by myself with the potential of feeling lonely, I always had people to natter to. And then, there were the times when talking about an experience, especially a difficult one, was very therapeutic. We had lots of laughs on the ward, especially initially, when everyone was afraid of the camera - I couldn't be more thankful though for the time and patience my colleagues demonstrated throughout, even from day one when none of them knew me.
I'm so glad I took part - there are not many junior doctors out there who are lucky enough to have those first few memories of their working lives immortalised on film!
Lucy Holmes features in Junior Doctors: Your Life in Their Hands which starts tonight at 9pm.
Add your comment.
