Making Waves
Julia Mewes.
1. How and where are you employed in the veterinary profession?
I qualified 20 years ago this summer, and have been employed in the Mid Sussex area ever since. For the last 13 years I have been principal of a small animal practice I set up myself from scratch. I still enjoy practising first opinion ‘GP’ small animal medicine.
2. What is your sideline?
My sideline is hospital radio presenting. I present a weekly show called ‘The Afternoon Delight’ on Mid-Downs Hospital Radio (MDR) 1350 AM at the Princess Royal Hospital, which is just up the hill from my Veterinary Clinic in Haywards Heath. It is the only classical music show in the week for the patients of the hospital, and includes regular snippets about the animal patients I see and the trouble they get into.
3. How did you get involved in your side interest?
I have always enjoyed doing voluntary work, from Riding for the Disabled to tin shaking, and then PAT (Pets As Therapy) visiting at a local nursing home with my terrier, Bella. When she became too old to enjoy jumping onto beds and accepting chocolate offerings, and my son became old enough to start school full time, I needed a new hobby.
I’ve always loved music. I used to dance for Cambridge University Ballroom Dancing Team, and never missed a ‘sweaty bop’ whilst in college. Gradually I learnt to appreciate classical music, especially during my pregnancy. Then I bumped into MDR’s tin-shaking team, just outside the Veterinary Clinic, and decided to volunteer. I’ve always enjoyed performing; this seemed like a good way to combine that fun, with a good deed.
Going from operating in the mornings at the veterinary clinic to broadcasting in the afternoons at the hospital really helps me keep my own importance in context, and to be grateful for my health and family.
I like the freedom of choosing my own output of music to broadcast for two hours. I imagine myself or one of my family in a hospital bed, not feeling too great, and try to think what music might lift them out of their sadness and help them through the day. I also enjoy the challenge of running the studio, which is fairly technical, and try to manage without any errors – not always successfully!
5. What has been your greatest achievement so far in this field?
Getting to the studio most weeks, despite my work commitments!
6. What are your ambitions – immediate and distant – in this area?
I have no ambitions, except to continue to provide a service that hopefully helps people through a difficult time in their lives. My ambition for MDR is to extend awareness of the service we provide so that more patients tune in to enjoy it.
7. Has your sideline taught you any important lessons?
Going from operating in the mornings at the veterinary clinic to broadcasting in the afternoons at the hospital really helps me keep my own importance in context, and to be grateful for my health and family.
8. Does it take up a lot of time and, if so, how do you manage this?
It is not time consuming. I rarely prepare for the show. I just take in my favourite CDs, and ensure I play music I enjoy, which I hope the audience will love too. The training took about five months, with weekly sessions, and I now chair the committee of MDR, which is time consuming, but the presenting is fun, if tiring.
In some ways they are very similar. I am in control, guiding what happens; I am communicating with a listener (hopefully); I am a friend at the bedside. In other ways they are disparate: I cannot see my listener on the radio, which makes communicating and staying interesting much harder. At the radio station my goal is to be amusing and uplifting, whereas, of course, it is about being understood at work.
10. Would you ever consider leaving the profession to make a full-time career out of it?
Hmm… if the BBC came knocking, yes – I could be tempted! Terry Wogan, watch out!
11. Are any other veterinary professionals involved in this activity?
Not that I’ve come across. One of MDR’s sidelines is to earn money by providing discos and a PA service. I know of other vets who are disco DJs, but not in hospital radio.
12. Would you advise your colleagues to get involved – and, if so, how?
Certainly, I really enjoy it. It’s challenging and requires concentration, but it is very satisfying.. I’ve made some good friends and hopefully raised some patients’ spirits.
Visit the Hospital Broadcasting Association’s website www.hbauk.com to find out which of your local hospitals have a radio station. Most provide training programmes.
13. How else do you spend your time?
I work full time, manage a household, am raising an 11-year-old son, and chair the MDR Committee – that’s about all I CAN do!
The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.
