Charlie Chaplin said laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain. A Belfast GP seems to have taken a leaf out of the comic genius’ book. Dr Waqar Ahmed, who moonlights as a stand-up comedian, has told GPs to bring humour into their work in order to help patients loosen up.
Dr Ahmed explained some 200 medics attending the Royal College of GPs conference in Harrogate recently how improvisational theatre techniques and comedy classes have helped him become a better doctor, adding that these techniques could help family doctors to better diagnose patients.
He said GPs should not be afraid to “go off script” when talking to patients. They should listen to patients more and allow conversations to flow.
But he warned against overt jokes, saying: “Don’t deliver a diagnosis with a punch-line or try to imitate Frankie Boyle or you may cause offence. No fat jokes or mother-in-law jokes.”
Dr Ahmed, who has performed 200 gigs and has studied clowning, said: “It came from some kind of mid-life crisis but it has made me a much better GP. My consultations are faster, the patients are laughing more.”
