The ongoing Coronavirus pandemic is often colloquially referred to as ‘the current situation’, a blanket term that has been ruthlessly engraved in our minds with its consistent, rather tiresome use to describe our experiences. As a first-year medical student, the pandemic has inevitably had its toll on my wellbeing and overall university experience, and has of course, greatly impacted every one of us. Through attending my online GP placements, I have realised the true impacts of the pandemic through observing video consultations, and the limitations that accompany them. I have chosen the medium of poetry to convey the feelings of distance and disconnection between doctors and patients through alternative methods of consultation, such as video and telephone calls. The main inspiration behind this poem is based on an online consultation I had participated in with my peers, in which we were exploring delicate topics and the patient had become visibly emotional. I remember feeling helpless – suddenly the barriers that stood between us seemed insurmountable, and I wanted nothing more in that moment to sit with the patient, face to face, and comfort her. While meeting such interesting and lovely patients, I couldn’t help but wonder how much more enjoyable it would be, if we were meeting in person. 

While writing this poem, I developed an appreciation for the dedication and resilience of doctors and healthcare workers in their efforts to sustain meaningful patient interactions through such difficult and unpredictable times. Although the current methods of consultations may not be ideal, the sheer effort to maintain normality is something I have learnt to deeply respect. 

The poem begins with a suggestion, an internal monologue in the mind of the doctor, navigating through the consultation and attempting to recognise and interpret the true feelings of the patient through the constraints of a cold, wide screen. Two worlds are explored here – the warmth of true, complex human interaction and the cool, binary nature of technology. A sense of disorientation and chaos can be felt throughout the poem, through the painful, discordant sounds of static and confusing visuals, alluding to a sensory overload that can be overwhelming to both the patient who may also be facing the difficulties of their health conditions, and for the doctor, staring endlessly at a screen, consultation after consultation. A distance so large and all-consuming is present, the patient is unable to fully engage with the experience, and the doctor is ultimately trying their best. 

Both the patient and the doctor are present in the moment, in which the world is unpredictable, confining and chaotic, but as that moment is able to pass, so will the ‘current situation’. The current situation we are in will inevitably pass, and with it, the feelings of disconnection, isolation and helplessness. As it leaves, powerful and impactful patient interactions will be possible again, and I truly hope to take part in them in the future.