“There’s something special about working in NHS hospitals… ”

-Dr Adell Mintah-Sem

Dr Adell Mintah-Sem is a British-Ghanaian junior doctor working in the NHS. She would like to develop a specialty interest in women’s health and fertility. She is also a wife and a mother to a 10-month-old baby who was born during the COVID-19 pandemic. When not at work, Adell loves nothing more than spending time with family, eating out, cooking and travelling.

What steps did you take to get into the role that you are in now?

I worked hard during my school days, and then studied at medical school for a total of seven years. I am now a junior doctor working in an NHS hospital.

What does an average working day look like?

An average working day starts with getting myself and my baby ready bright and early. I then go to work whilst she is looked after by my wonderful mother.

The working day starts with a multi-disciplinary meeting where we discuss each patient in turn, what their medical and social needs are, and if they are safe to be discharged from hospital or not. I then see and examine the patients I have been assigned. The jobs which arise from the morning ward round are completed by the afternoon. Then I change out of scrubs, go home and have a second shower and slip into mummy and wife role. I cook dinner and play with the little one until bedtime. My husband usually does the bedtime routine, then we prep for the next day ahead.

An on-call day is definitely more hectic on the acute wards!

What do you love about the medical field?

I love how rewarding it feels after a good day at work, knowing you’ve helped people who may be at their lowest, or most unwell, point. I love the comradery amongst staff. I love that you can have a hugely positive effect by doing something dramatic, like a life-saving procedure, but also by doing something simple, such as truly listening to a patient and reassuring them.

What has been the most testing moment of your career thus far?

Returning to work after maternity leave has most certainly been the most challenging part of my career so far.

I had my baby during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was particularly difficult as both my sister and father passed away on my maternity leave whilst I was heavily pregnant.

Our little baby was a great distraction and I was able to focus on the joy that she bought us. However, returning to work was a step into a harsh reality. Not to mention I started work in a new hospital and trying to get to know a new team when you haven’t a clue what they look like due to everyone wearing masks has been an interesting state of affairs! Luckily it is a very welcoming hospital.

Prior to maternity leave, I was working on a surgical unit and COVID-19 was not known about, so it has certainly been challenging returning to work in the height of a global pandemic!

What has been the most inspiring moment of your career thus far?

I still have a long way to go in my career as a doctor, but so far I’d say the smaller things have had the biggest impact on me.

There was a time in my first year as a qualified doctor where a patient lost consciousness and required CPR, and they came back round whilst I performed chest compressions. I had taken over from the first responder so it was definitely a team effort, but I remember feeling proud (and relieved) that the patient came through!

However, times such as when I had a consultation with a patient who had an alcohol problem touched my hand and said: ‘thank you, I feel like you’re the only doctor who has truly listened to me’, are the times that have inspired me the most. Or even recently when an elderly patient cried and said: ‘thank you for listening to me’. Those are the best times for me.

How do you find the work-life balance? What strategies and routines do you have in place to cope with the work-life balance?

I’m lucky enough to work part-time, which so far, I’m finding provides a great balance. It means on my home days I can be fully devoted to ‘mum-life’.

My husband and family are extremely supportive. My husband is also a doctor (full-time) so we have to juggle our rotas and on-calls but we have a good balance – for instance he’s a much better cleaner than I am, whilst I do most of the cooking! We allow each other lie-ins and do family activities when we’re both off (which at the moment, in this current lockdown, consists purely of walks).

Living in an area with plenty of green space and woodland has been such a treat during lockdown.

What's the situation/atmosphere like for your colleagues right now – considering COVID-19?

I have started back at work during a time when COVID numbers are of course still high, but improving. It’s an atmosphere of tiredness and fatigue to be honest. But there’s something special about working in NHS hospitals. Despite the relentlessness of it, people try to stay cheery; cakes and sweet treats are sometimes brought into meetings to boost morale and people continue to try their best under the circumstances.

What is it about the NHS that you think people should appreciate more? What is it that everyday people don’t really know?

The stress of bringing your work home with you is a big factor. Having discussed with consultants, this can be an issue even at their level. You may find yourself waking up at 4am thinking ‘did I hand this over, did I order that scan?’

I think another thing the general public may not know is how low the staffing numbers can be for out-of-hours shifts. There can be three or so junior doctors on each ward in the hospital during the day, which then turns into around three juniors to cover all the medical wards in the whole hospital at night!

What would be your advice to anyone aspiring to enter the medical field?

Go for it if it’s what you really want; its hard work, but very rewarding. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, at every stage, whether you’re still in medical school, or seeing a very unwell patient on-call as a qualified doctor. You cannot know everything, you’re not expected to know everything. Just do your best and ask for the rest! Keep a healthy work-life balance, and value your relationships/friendships, you’ll need them to laugh and cry with you along the way.

And finally, what does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To me, IWD is about celebrating all the achievements of women. It’s about showcasing the wonders of a woman, whilst also calling for change, improvement and equality.

Whether children are involved or not, women have a lot of pressure to balance all aspects of life: to be successful in the workplace and successful at home. Our accomplishments should be recognised and respected, in terms of our pay, and the opportunities available to us.

For me, IWD is also about learning about other women’s stories and celebrating all the ups and downs along the way.