A view from the dark side… “How to… persuade a grumpy radiologist to help in the investigation of your acute patient”

The pressure of acute admissions continues to place a great strain on those staff fighting on the front line. I stand in awe of those with enthusiasm for the battle but am occasionally aware of grumbles directed at compatriots with more comfortable lives, in the shelter of the Radiology department. How many of you have approached your friendly radiologist with a request slip in hand to be greeted with “no”, “I’m busy”, “it’s a waste of time anyway”, “is that all you can tell me about the patient”; or worse, not greeted at all, but ignored for the next ten minutes whilst Dr Grumpy FRCR finishes his ultrasound scan/report/cup of coffee? Isn’t it sad that, as intelligent professionals, with the patients’ wellbeing as our common goal, we sometimes interact so poorly.