Matthew Bowker Profile
Matthew Bowker

@matthewbowker

749
Followers
1,196
Following
73
Media
582
Statuses

Dad, doctor and engineer.

Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
Joined April 2011
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
MedTwitter, I'd love to hear some of your favourite, stupidest jokes you tell patients and their laughter success rate. Here are some of mine. When pushing a patient on a trolley: "I promise I'm better doctor than I am driver" 80% success
591
247
3K
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
Remembering my first Christmas shift as a doctor. I podded the labs some Mars bars. One to haem One to micro One to biochem One to transfusion. The result? Three thanks yous and a datix. 🎄🎁
59
47
1K
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
My wife and I were gifted lovely home-knitted cardigans for our twins' first outfit. It appears they are now dressed as adorable NHS mugs.
Tweet media one
38
11
1K
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
When a patient has come to ED twice for the same problem: "Ooh I hear on your third visit you get a free coffee" 90% success
2
13
781
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
5 years
Don't take the piss: Urine dips in older patients. Another infographic for new F1s #TipsForNewDocs
Tweet media one
39
504
730
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
When looking at a patient's elbow x-ray with them: "I'm not sure what you think but this knee looks funny" 50% success
8
6
673
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
When a patient says they think they have been treated by me before: "A devastatingly charming doctor was it?" 2% success
5
7
626
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
When cannulating someone: "Just look away when I do" 30% success
12
10
618
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
I've made a spreadsheet which automatically formats blood results in a realistic way for simulation. Feel free to use/modify/distribute! #medtwitter #simulation #sim #FOAMEd #MedEd @NorthumbriaDASH
Tweet media one
49
82
491
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
At a recent job interview: Interviewer: "tell us about a mistake you have made at work and how you responded to it." Me: "it's hard to pick just one" Nailed it.
17
6
357
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
The department has been adding to this bit by bit. Our nativity now includes a turtle!
Tweet media one
9
31
312
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
One reason of many that I'm leaving clinical medicine. Fond memories of calling work to say I can't come in for a night shift to take my 18 month old to A&E. I was told no.
@Doctors_Vote
DoctorsVote 🦀 #TellThemAgain
1 year
The NHS expects you to always be available to cover. They expect you to cancel your plans at the last minute. They will not compensate you for this. Learn your value. No is a complete sentence.
Tweet media one
Tweet media two
Tweet media three
184
540
2K
28
26
288
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 months
My toddler: I have a sore tummy. Can I see the doctor? Me: I'm a doctor! Shall I look at your tumtum? Toddler: No I want a proper doctor. Devastating.
15
7
256
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
My hospital has a new biochemist who I'm sure pauses for effect when phoning through bad results and I LOVE it.
4
4
253
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Over the moon with how popular the Pre-hospital Postbox has become. Use is increasing week by week and we now have several power users. Crews are consistently asking interesting and important questions. So glad we can feed back answers.
Tweet media one
6
15
124
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
In a similar vein: Apparently "87F, tripped over dog ?Labrador.... [Relevant clinical details]" isn't appropriate either.
7
1
114
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
9 days
UK/Aus/NZ MedTwitter right now:
Tweet media one
@dr_shai
Shai
10 days
It’s a great case with a positive outcome and some learning points. But, 70, in a NH, multimorbid…. I worry about duration of delirium, persistence of lung injury and deconditioning. It shows the discrepancy between NHS and US (?comprehensively insured) healthcare.
15
5
89
1
5
105
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Really excited to launch (we think) the region's first Pre-hospital Postbox over the next few days! Will be great for learning, wellbeing, and building relationships between hospital and ambulance crews. Can't wait!
Tweet media one
11
9
84
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
@SamuelBS85 Paying for parking at your workplace (and somehow still having nowhere to park)
1
1
83
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
9 months
Going to my last shift in full time clinical medicine after five years of being a doctor. This timer has been going for 211 days. (1/n)
Tweet media one
6
0
61
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
@EdHill0 Our team at Northumbria Healthcare have taken this even further: we have been doing mobile x-ray in patients' homes since late last year. Amazing admission avoidance stats. Those who still need to attend ED have lots of the work done already.
3
9
52
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
@Beska I didn't appropriately label the Mars Bar.
1
1
46
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
In my current hospital, the rota coordinator is a one-person powerhouse who does an awesome job and seems to always have trainees' welfare in mind.
0
0
40
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
5 years
Looking forward to speaking to some of the incoming FY1s about thinks I wish I knew when I was in their shoes. Making a bunch of infographics on some of these topics as well. #TipsForNewDocs #gradedassertiveness #abg
Tweet media one
Tweet media two
5
16
40
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Had a great exchange with a brilliant and very Geordie med student today. Me: what's the most common type of bowel cancer,pathologically? MS: I don't know Me: Yeah you do! MS: I DON'T KNOW! On further discussion,it seems 'adeno' in Geordie sounds just like 'I don't know' 🤦
2
2
39
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
These threads often end up being a pile on against admin staff. In my experience, it's senior medics and not admin who are the problem. It certainly was in this case and in the quoted tweet with the ethics article.
2
0
37
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
@LeylsTurk For real though: Vomit? Muslin. Posset? Muslin. Tears (yours or baby's)? Muslin. Poonami? Muslin to protect furniture until help arrives. Food everywhere? Muslin. In a pinch for a swaddle? Large muslin. Playing peekaboo? Muslin. etc etc
2
0
30
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
I never thought I would be so happy to discover a box of surgical masks with ties instead of the ones which loop around your ears.
3
0
28
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
@Nurse_Lecturer @EdHill0 Manuscripts have been submitted - watch this space! In summary - 40% discharge at scene. Majority of imaging is hips. Car staffed with radiographer, paramedic, ED doc. Also amazing work to help people stay away from hospital where it would be really distressing (e.g. severe LD)
1
1
26
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
Me **scraping** past the cutoff to get an anaesthetics interview:
7
0
26
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
@LeylsTurk I don't know how many muslins you have, but I can say with 100% certainty that you need more.
3
0
24
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
The barcode says 'guinea-pig' for those who are curious
1
1
23
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
I love working in the North East @MADEinHEENE but I am dreading entering training. The region is just too big to allow me to be a present dad and a trainee. How do people make it work? When choosing between being a doctor or a present dad, being a dad will always win.
7
1
23
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
9 months
What's next? For now, I'm spending a year as a teaching fellow - teaching has consistently been my favourite bit of the job. After that? Who knows. Huge thanks to all of those around me who have been so kind and supportive in this really difficult decision.
6
0
22
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
I'll need to set aside some time.
Tweet media one
0
0
21
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Working in the NHS has conditioned me in some unhelpful ways. My wife just called calmly from downstairs "can I have some help please?" I obviously leapt up and legged it downstairs (butterflies and all). It was just a baby poonami.
0
0
21
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
@NotoriousB_E_G A four hour induction PowerPoint after finishing a night shift and in your own time should help. Is there any other way of learning these things in the NHS?
0
0
20
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
My favourite part of getting my second covid jab was that it was done my a paediatric nurse who made a fun 'pop' sound when she did the injection. 10/10 beats 'sharp scratch'. Would recommend.
1
0
19
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
@StuMaitland @sh_abbers I ran both the Aida and fracture one through chat GPT. 10/10 would weed out a non-doctor. Honourable mention to other tests: - the universal NHS door code - does the average NHS ward have the right number of cows? (I like this one)
1
1
19
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
10 months
Certain corners of #MedTwitter are being pretty gross revelling in the death of a patient because they feel it proves their point about PAs. Some people need to take a proper look at themselves.
0
2
18
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
For Sale: two teething 6-month-olds. Price: One packet of Doritos OBO Contact via DM for further information.
3
1
18
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
Horrifying scenes in the junior doctor WhatsApp group
Tweet media one
0
0
18
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Unexpected side effect of long COVID is being allocated all of the pooey nappies because "you can't smell them". Well done @MrsB_NE you've played a blinder 👏
2
0
17
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
While handing over to the same registrar for the 50th time today: Intention: "appreciate mate, thank you" Reality: "appreci-mate it, love you" I'm considering resigning.
1
0
17
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
I had the challenging experience this week of talking to some medical students about resilience. Like others, I have had to endure victim blaming and often useless resilience 'training',so I was glad to receive good feedback and emails of thanks. Here's what I think worked: (1/n)
3
0
17
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
5 years
"Dr X is my normal doctor. She is so lovely and always listens to me!" We hear our patients praise our colleagues every day. Over the past few months I've tried to drop my colleagues an email with that patient feedback whenever it comes up. (1/2)
1
2
16
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
Just remembering first year of med school when I took time off to donate for Anthony Nolan. I asked a coursemate to borrow their notes to help catch up for the first exam. Their response? "No. At this stage of the year, you're competition." (1/2)
4
2
16
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
A patient recently told me I had beautiful eyes. He did have a massive head injury, but I'm still happy to take it.
1
0
15
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Cannot recommend this job enough. Both the education and ED team are genuinely interested in your personal development, and there are so many opportunities in both departments. The rota is also great!
@docjim40
James McFetrich
3 years
Four Emergency Medicine Teaching Fellow posts @NorthumbriaNHS advertised today 50% clinical 50% undergraduate teaching Suitable for any doctors post foundation.
3
24
27
2
2
15
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Proud of the amazing team. A tiny group of people working largely in their spare time achieved a huge amount. Onwards and upwards.
@bmj_latest
The BMJ
3 years
We also have a highly commended in the diagnostics category which has been awarded to the X-ray Response Team by @NorthumbriaNHS . Congratulations to the team! @Alliance_Medical #TheBMJAwards
2
4
31
6
1
15
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Spotted at Sainsbury's today. This is... unfortunate (or I'm a massive child)
Tweet media one
1
0
15
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
Brushing the teeth of my twin toddler who is going through a biting phase feels a lot like I'm arming him to do more damage against his brother.
0
0
15
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
@SandraWors3 @DrNickCrombie @BruceArena @cybernewsdesk Hi Sandy. Thanks for this thoughtful and insightful response. I was just wondering if you'd be able to share the peer-reviewed papers you've read? Or which textbooks disagreed with Nick's tweet? I'm a big fan of Boron's Medical Physiology but don't think this is mentioned?
0
0
13
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
A couple of weeks into my hospital opening an amazing new deli and staff wellness centre, one thing has become very clear
3
0
14
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
Remembering my first Christmas shift as a doctor. I podded the labs some Mars bars. One to haem One to micro One to biochem One to transfusion. The result? Three thanks yous and a datix. 🎄🎁
59
47
1K
2
0
13
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
Too many amazing nurses are burnt out, fed up, or leaving the profession. The very least they deserve is fair pay. Solidarity with my striking colleagues today.
0
1
12
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
"Patient's IED went off" really is an excellent typo to see in patient notes.
0
0
12
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
6 years
Following the @TraumaNorth Conference I'm putting together maps based on national trauma data. Today's map: adult MTC service areas. Next project probably looking at where fatal RTCs occur in relation to MTCs. #trauma #EM #PHEM #maps
Tweet media one
3
3
12
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
@ross_moy Love it when a patient rocks up with a letter - usually from renal or COTE - which lists everything concisely. I've also met patients who have their own ECG laminated to show docs to avoid hundreds of trips to PPCI. Good stuff!
0
0
12
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
@Chris_Riggers @Nurse_Lecturer @EdHill0 The course is hilariously named Emergency Assessment and Recognition of Minor Injuries for Radiographers (EARMIR). Hilarious to me at least. The service is still young and we are learning as we go. At the moment, it feels like all 3 team members contributing substantially.(3/3)
1
0
12
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
10 months
@timricketts_ Does the average ward have enough cows?
0
0
11
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
@THEJessAllen @WelshGasDoc 'treat,' noun, "an event or item that is out of the ordinary and gives great pleasure" Doughnuts are delicious and when enjoyed in moderation have minimal negative health effects. Criticising the dietary choices of capacitous adults really is an unusual hill to die on...
1
0
11
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
"Ambulance unions have made a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients by going ahead with strikes, the Health Secretary has said" The health secretary is a hypocrite and a clown. Shame on him. Chronic underfunding and mismanagement has been inflicting harm for years.
0
3
11
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
There is no excuse for how badly the ambulance service has been treated by government for years. Solidarity with my striking colleagues and friends.
0
3
11
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
Earlier this week I had a patient with a PACI stroke and was reminded how jarring it is to hear that term out loud. If there was a medical term which sounded identical to the 'N word' we would quite rightly stop using it. What gives?
2
1
11
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
Recently had a really positive experience of disagreeing WELL with a tertiary care service. Clear mutual respect and an understanding that we both want what is best for the patient but have differing professional opinions. Interactions like this are great for patient safety.
2
0
11
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Out taking the twins for a walk in the pram. Random stranger comes up to me and says I look like they haven't been sleeping. They've been sleeping great. How's your day going?
1
0
11
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
5 years
The responses have been very consistent - people are really happy with the feedback and nearly always comment how rare it is to hear positive patient feedback. Let's change this. (2/2)
0
1
11
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
@NotoriousB_E_G Not e-learning, but really useful stuff: - Clinical examination is extremely tricky. Just 18.8% of patients taken to MRI by the JCUH *spinal team* for ?CES actually had CES. Just scan these patients. Also @DrLindaDykes infographic
@DrLindaDykes
Dr Linda Dykes @[email protected]
5 years
Cauda Equina Syndrome: missed/delayed diagnosis can be catastrophic for patients. Did you know UK guidelines were updated in 2018 to lower the threshold for urgent MRI? @saspist and I have summarised for EM/GP. PDF available at #FOAMed Please do share!
Tweet media one
115
1K
2K
0
5
11
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
When you get your toddler's clothes as hand-me-downs from a HART paramedic @NEAS_HART
Tweet media one
0
0
11
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Excited for an interesting couple of days of CEM @IofPHC @blizard_inst
Tweet media one
1
0
9
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
@Beska @angularboxoid Are you sure you're using the correct type of potato?
1
0
10
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Thanks to @DrLindaDykes for the inspiration. FAQ: Caldicott/IG approval ✅ SOP written ✅ Consultant oversight ✅
1
0
10
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
The same person was also rumoured to be hiding key textbooks in the library so nobody else could use them. They're a doctor now.
2
1
9
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Me: This MSF is lovely! The comments are great and the feedback is really positive. Also me: Someone said my knowledge is 'satisfactory'. This MSF is a catastrophe. Nobody can be trusted.
1
0
9
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Tweet media one
0
0
8
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
I've gone deep into the rabbit hole of conspiracy theory Facebook. Seems legit. #cardiology #theydidntcoverthisinmedschool
Tweet media one
1
0
9
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Doing some ultrasound pre-course e-learning. Everytime the instructor says something can 'clearly' be seen, a bit of me dies.
2
0
9
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Anyone else who has had the vaccine getting reporting a sense of satisfaction and optimism? #yellowcard #thiswasntonthePIL
0
0
9
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
9 months
This is absolutely the right choice for me. I'll share more about my decision to leave another time. Safe to say, I won't miss the self doubt, work-life imbalance, and working in a system which doesn't enable you to do your best. (4/n)
1
1
9
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
Thank you to @IofPHC for 3 great days of Community Emergency Medicine. Three leaving thoughts: 1) I met a lot of people during this course who are pioneers and leaders in their fields. Everyone was modest,kind and keen to help. 2) I'm feeling humbled. 3) I'm feeling motivated.
0
0
9
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
One of our experienced nurses was working in resus and was getting gowned for a short-notice pre-alert. In the haste, she instead put on a shroud (frilly neck and all). Rightly, she will be reminded of this until retirement.
1
0
9
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
For those who are applying this year, I have emailed RCEM who have said it looks like MSRA will be used again for CT/ST1 recreuitment. This is so, so disappointing. @EMTAcommittee
5
2
9
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
@BronwynW00dburn @NorthumbriaNHS @nhsfyp @MADEinHEENE Welcome to the trust! Super friendly and so well supported. Important tip: at NSECH, don't get the coffee from the main canteen. Get the coffee from the jacket potato counter - that's the good stuff 👌👌
1
0
8
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
@chrisbiggin You're damn right it will be. Night shift dream team. @FantasticalRach @jackiegregson
Tweet media one
0
0
8
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
5 years
Important discovery while working on a General Surgery ward in NE England: many people from North Northumberland use the word 'poop' to mean fart. Nobody told me this in medical school.
1
0
8
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
@CCWearmouth In terms of #FOAMEd there is this brilliant table on @RCEMLearning complete with citations
Tweet media one
1
1
8
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
I hate the MSRA with every fibre of my soul. I can only imagine that someone at the Recruitment Office had to think carefully about how to shift as much responsibility away from the recruitment team by randomly filtering out applicants.
2
0
8
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
@Chris_Riggers @Nurse_Lecturer @EdHill0 ...who would benefit from experienced paramedic care in addition to rad and doc. One amazing thing on the team is the cross-pollination. Everyone learning from everyone else and getting up-skilled. Excited to be developing a clinical skills course for the rad team (2/n)
1
0
8
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
@Maggusy Obviously I can't speak for others, but my perspective is that the pay needs to keep up with inflation, which isn't an unreasonable expectation for people starting med school. The F1 salary at the end of med school should be substantially higher than the one when you entered...
1
0
8
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
@leglessjane @JonnyGucks @nadiastock @docjim40 Of the things I've tried with med students, the biggest one which made a difference was doing role play with an actual proper power imbalance (e.g. med student versus senior professor). Here is an infographic which has been well received by students
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
5 years
Looking forward to speaking to some of the incoming FY1s about thinks I wish I knew when I was in their shoes. Making a bunch of infographics on some of these topics as well. #TipsForNewDocs #gradedassertiveness #abg
Tweet media one
Tweet media two
5
16
40
1
0
8
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
@TharushaGunawa4 A bit of a moan: I've often seen debrief evangelists talk about it being 'well evidenced', but last time I checked the evidence was awful
2
0
8
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
@TheResusRoom highlight from the poisoning podcast "...and the fact that calcium channel blockers are blocking the calcium channels". Quality tip from @heli_med_james 👌
1
0
8
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
@EdHill0 When I first started, I framed my discharge decisions in terms of 'will the patient be okay?' which is absolutely #1 . However, now I have learned to ask the second question: 'will I be okay?' - if I think I'm going to leave shift worrying about that decision it needs a rethink.
2
0
6
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
2 years
@JAShuttleworth @GaslingSarah James that joke was a total flop.
1
0
7
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
3 years
@GeeMcLachlan @_katieknight_ @OrthopodReg @lungsatwork @WomenSurgeonsUK @womenspeakersHC @WomeninHL @BlackWomenDocs @WISScotland @HadithyNada @rosespenfold This is great. The reason it is so good is that it'll help men realise they're mansplaining to others who likely have more experience than themselves. Happy to share some of my own work around this if you're interested.
1
1
7
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
4 years
I'm analysing and editing the audio of my hospital's crash alarm for a project. I'd hoped my stress response to hearing it would have settled by now. It hasn't.
0
0
7
@matthewbowker
Matthew Bowker
1 year
@DrRJWebb Sounds like the @DFTBubbles MSc at QMUL ticks all the right boxes.
Tweet media one
1
0
7