When we launched our writing competition, we were filled with the usual worries. Would people be bothered to enter during the summer? Would we only get a few weak entries and have to plaster on a grin when publishing them?
The answer was an emphatic ‘no.’ We received 50 entries all of an incredibly high standard, ranging from the deeply moving to the blisteringly funny.
After fierce debating between our judges, we decided on a top five that we were all happy with – our runners up and winners to be announced soon. However, there were still so many pieces that we thought deserved to be read and enjoyed.
So, over the next two weeks, alongside our top five pieces, we will also be posting our highly commended entries in different categories: ‘The big ideas,’ ‘The patient that taught me’ and ‘Gut feelings.’
Below are our two highly commended entries for ‘My big idea.’
Desperate times call for annual patient appraisals – Dr Anya Heywood
Scrap waiting rooms for calm spaces – Dr Saba Shah
Happy reading!
