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 Customer Reviews
Ex District Midwife, 04 Sep 2008
This book is excellent, not only is it very funny but very illuminating as to how the NHS works now.
As a Conservative Councillor it grieves me to say where Labour have got it right but pulls no punches on where it has gone wrong.
I'd recommend every politician or who people who need to use the A& E department to read this book.
I happily recommend for anyone who enjoys a good read but wants to learn something as well.
Little has changed... J.S. South Africa, 12 Aug 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which evoked many memories both sad and humorous, having trained and worked in the NHS for over 20 years. The sad factor is that I have been living abroad for 14 years now and it seems little has changed despite the numerous promises from a variety of politicians . The same problems and frustrations are highlighted such as bed management , abuse of the ambulance service etc. It is time the general public knew what really goes on and despite all the problems you certainly appreciate the NHS from a distance. It should be compulsory reading before any further damage can be done to this great institution.
Every politician should have to read this book, 14 May 2008
This is such an important book, despite its light-hearted and readable tone. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It was real and it was worrying. It set out clearly what it's like working in today's NHS. It outlined the problems, it outlined sensible solutions and it highlighted the madness of the current government's schemes. which should make us all fear for our future health provision. And it also told us about comedy items stuck up patients' bottoms. What more could you ask for in a book about A&E?
Seriously though, this book should be required reading for all politicians and it should have been reviewed and discussed by the broadsheet newspapers.
Hilariously frank, 07 May 2008
I have just read this book in 3 days - mostly on trains and buses - and had to try very hard not to make a spectacle of myself by laughing too much. Dr Nick paints a heart-warmingly honest portrait of life as an A and E doctor, its ups and downs, celebrations and frustrations, but best of all are the quirky characters he meets. His accounts are hilariously frank whilst still insightful, and compell the reader to a greater understanding of how hospitals work. A brilliant book.
V realistic view on today's NHS, 28 Apr 2008
I loved this book. It was the sort of book that is so accurate it is scary. I am not a doctor, but it reminded me of working in A+E as a radiographer many moons ago. I have never nodded in agreement and exclaimed "yes! that is really how it is!!" aloud when reading a book on the bus. I agree with the ideas that stem from the book such as the NHS being placed into the hands of the professionals and the patients that use it, and reducing the amount of Governmental control.
To those saying that the book is too political, well that is what it is like in today's NHS, too many targets, poor workforce planning etc is something that health professionals have to deal with on an everyday basis. Dr Edwards clearly loves the NHS for what it stands for, but his frustration with how it is managed is justified.
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Customer Reviews
Ex District Midwife, 04 Sep 2008
This book is excellent, not only is it very funny but very illuminating as to how the NHS works now.
As a Conservative Councillor it grieves me to say where Labour have got it right but pulls no punches on where it has gone wrong.
I'd recommend every politician or who people who need to use the A& E department to read this book.
I happily recommend for anyone who enjoys a good read but wants to learn something as well.
Little has changed... J.S. South Africa, 12 Aug 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which evoked many memories both sad and humorous, having trained and worked in the NHS for over 20 years. The sad factor is that I have been living abroad for 14 years now and it seems little has changed despite the numerous promises from a variety of politicians . The same problems and frustrations are highlighted such as bed management , abuse of the ambulance service etc. It is time the general public knew what really goes on and despite all the problems you certainly appreciate the NHS from a distance. It should be compulsory reading before any further damage can be done to this great institution.
Every politician should have to read this book, 14 May 2008
This is such an important book, despite its light-hearted and readable tone. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It was real and it was worrying. It set out clearly what it's like working in today's NHS. It outlined the problems, it outlined sensible solutions and it highlighted the madness of the current government's schemes. which should make us all fear for our future health provision. And it also told us about comedy items stuck up patients' bottoms. What more could you ask for in a book about A&E?
Seriously though, this book should be required reading for all politicians and it should have been reviewed and discussed by the broadsheet newspapers.
Hilariously frank, 07 May 2008
I have just read this book in 3 days - mostly on trains and buses - and had to try very hard not to make a spectacle of myself by laughing too much. Dr Nick paints a heart-warmingly honest portrait of life as an A and E doctor, its ups and downs, celebrations and frustrations, but best of all are the quirky characters he meets. His accounts are hilariously frank whilst still insightful, and compell the reader to a greater understanding of how hospitals work. A brilliant book.
V realistic view on today's NHS, 28 Apr 2008
I loved this book. It was the sort of book that is so accurate it is scary. I am not a doctor, but it reminded me of working in A+E as a radiographer many moons ago. I have never nodded in agreement and exclaimed "yes! that is really how it is!!" aloud when reading a book on the bus. I agree with the ideas that stem from the book such as the NHS being placed into the hands of the professionals and the patients that use it, and reducing the amount of Governmental control.
To those saying that the book is too political, well that is what it is like in today's NHS, too many targets, poor workforce planning etc is something that health professionals have to deal with on an everyday basis. Dr Edwards clearly loves the NHS for what it stands for, but his frustration with how it is managed is justified.
It is really like this....., 31 May 2007
Although it may be unpalatable to many, this is exactly what it was ( ?is) like to be junior doctor...I know i was one.
I'm now a consultant and things haven't changed much (other than for the worse)
Read it if you want to get a true perspective as opposed to the nonsense in Holby City, Casualty etc
Whilst you're at it take a look at the Cardiac Arrest series from the 90's now on DVD -- probaly the best hospital TV series ever made
Important reading for doctors in training, 20 Feb 2007
As a medical teacher I was keen to add my thoughts having
just read this book. Like other reviewers I found aspects of this book
negative, missing out a lot of the positive
points out about being a junior doctor.
Having said that there are some parts of the book which were very valuable.
Suicide among doctors is a real issue and it is vital all
doctors, particularly junior doctors, read the section on
pages 80-82; "Suicide is Painless". He writes; "So if
you're a doctor and you think it it's all over and your
whole world has gone irretrievably pear-shaped, I say
this: Bail out. Don't kill yourself. Leave your job. .....
Reclaim your life: have it over again. You're young.
You'll make new friends."
If you have issues relating to views on health service
managers, then read page 118.
And finally, a useful
quotation; "Accident and Emergency is the random anecdote
generator of the NHS, the strange attractor to which all
ridiculousness will gravitate." (Page 68)
The book is well worth a read, particularly for doctors in training.
Hilarious, 12 Dec 2005
This is the only book that tells it like it is about being a junior doctor in the UK. It's funny and dark. A must-read for all doctors and would-be doctors out there.
unrelentless ranting, 22 Mar 2005
This book is more or less a long, bitter rant. Now there are times when I like that kind of thing, but the negativity is overwhelming here, and incessant! There are some insights into life as a junior doctor to be gleaned if you are not a doctor and there is some (I think almost accidental) comment on real issues about the downsides of medical training. However I am in two minds as to whether I really learnt anything new or indeed if I enjoyed the read. This is a book to borrow from a friend or take out of the library, I don't think I'd buy it again though I am glad I read it.
Humorous to Cynical in 60 seconds, 30 Oct 2004
This book started out as an entertaining and humorous account about life as a junior doctor, and quickly disintegrated into a cynical and negative assault on nurses and patients - the very people vital to Foxton's success and employment. Do your health a favour and give it a miss.
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Customer Reviews
Ex District Midwife, 04 Sep 2008
This book is excellent, not only is it very funny but very illuminating as to how the NHS works now.
As a Conservative Councillor it grieves me to say where Labour have got it right but pulls no punches on where it has gone wrong.
I'd recommend every politician or who people who need to use the A& E department to read this book.
I happily recommend for anyone who enjoys a good read but wants to learn something as well.
Little has changed... J.S. South Africa, 12 Aug 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which evoked many memories both sad and humorous, having trained and worked in the NHS for over 20 years. The sad factor is that I have been living abroad for 14 years now and it seems little has changed despite the numerous promises from a variety of politicians . The same problems and frustrations are highlighted such as bed management , abuse of the ambulance service etc. It is time the general public knew what really goes on and despite all the problems you certainly appreciate the NHS from a distance. It should be compulsory reading before any further damage can be done to this great institution.
Every politician should have to read this book, 14 May 2008
This is such an important book, despite its light-hearted and readable tone. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It was real and it was worrying. It set out clearly what it's like working in today's NHS. It outlined the problems, it outlined sensible solutions and it highlighted the madness of the current government's schemes. which should make us all fear for our future health provision. And it also told us about comedy items stuck up patients' bottoms. What more could you ask for in a book about A&E?
Seriously though, this book should be required reading for all politicians and it should have been reviewed and discussed by the broadsheet newspapers.
Hilariously frank, 07 May 2008
I have just read this book in 3 days - mostly on trains and buses - and had to try very hard not to make a spectacle of myself by laughing too much. Dr Nick paints a heart-warmingly honest portrait of life as an A and E doctor, its ups and downs, celebrations and frustrations, but best of all are the quirky characters he meets. His accounts are hilariously frank whilst still insightful, and compell the reader to a greater understanding of how hospitals work. A brilliant book.
V realistic view on today's NHS, 28 Apr 2008
I loved this book. It was the sort of book that is so accurate it is scary. I am not a doctor, but it reminded me of working in A+E as a radiographer many moons ago. I have never nodded in agreement and exclaimed "yes! that is really how it is!!" aloud when reading a book on the bus. I agree with the ideas that stem from the book such as the NHS being placed into the hands of the professionals and the patients that use it, and reducing the amount of Governmental control.
To those saying that the book is too political, well that is what it is like in today's NHS, too many targets, poor workforce planning etc is something that health professionals have to deal with on an everyday basis. Dr Edwards clearly loves the NHS for what it stands for, but his frustration with how it is managed is justified.
It is really like this....., 31 May 2007
Although it may be unpalatable to many, this is exactly what it was ( ?is) like to be junior doctor...I know i was one.
I'm now a consultant and things haven't changed much (other than for the worse)
Read it if you want to get a true perspective as opposed to the nonsense in Holby City, Casualty etc
Whilst you're at it take a look at the Cardiac Arrest series from the 90's now on DVD -- probaly the best hospital TV series ever made
Important reading for doctors in training, 20 Feb 2007
As a medical teacher I was keen to add my thoughts having
just read this book. Like other reviewers I found aspects of this book
negative, missing out a lot of the positive
points out about being a junior doctor.
Having said that there are some parts of the book which were very valuable.
Suicide among doctors is a real issue and it is vital all
doctors, particularly junior doctors, read the section on
pages 80-82; "Suicide is Painless". He writes; "So if
you're a doctor and you think it it's all over and your
whole world has gone irretrievably pear-shaped, I say
this: Bail out. Don't kill yourself. Leave your job. .....
Reclaim your life: have it over again. You're young.
You'll make new friends."
If you have issues relating to views on health service
managers, then read page 118.
And finally, a useful
quotation; "Accident and Emergency is the random anecdote
generator of the NHS, the strange attractor to which all
ridiculousness will gravitate." (Page 68)
The book is well worth a read, particularly for doctors in training.
Hilarious, 12 Dec 2005
This is the only book that tells it like it is about being a junior doctor in the UK. It's funny and dark. A must-read for all doctors and would-be doctors out there.
unrelentless ranting, 22 Mar 2005
This book is more or less a long, bitter rant. Now there are times when I like that kind of thing, but the negativity is overwhelming here, and incessant! There are some insights into life as a junior doctor to be gleaned if you are not a doctor and there is some (I think almost accidental) comment on real issues about the downsides of medical training. However I am in two minds as to whether I really learnt anything new or indeed if I enjoyed the read. This is a book to borrow from a friend or take out of the library, I don't think I'd buy it again though I am glad I read it.
Humorous to Cynical in 60 seconds, 30 Oct 2004
This book started out as an entertaining and humorous account about life as a junior doctor, and quickly disintegrated into a cynical and negative assault on nurses and patients - the very people vital to Foxton's success and employment. Do your health a favour and give it a miss.
A story finally told...., 20 Aug 2008
Finally a book that tells the story of the remarkable women nurses in WW2. From the first page the reader is immediately transported to the world that these women were part of. From their nursing training to the weird and wonderful details of their uniform.
If you think you know what nurses such as these did in WW2, then think again. The horrors they endured and the terrible situations they found themselves in will shock the reader and leave you with nothing but admiration for their spirit and bravery.
The book has plenty of quotes and paragraphs from the women themselves, and/or diary entries from that time. A few of the women are featured throughout the book, and the reader will find themselves taken vividly back to that time and seeing it all through the nurses' eyes and feeling like you are really getting to know these characters.
A superb book, and a very important book that anyone with an interest in WW2 should read.
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Customer Reviews
Ex District Midwife, 04 Sep 2008
This book is excellent, not only is it very funny but very illuminating as to how the NHS works now.
As a Conservative Councillor it grieves me to say where Labour have got it right but pulls no punches on where it has gone wrong.
I'd recommend every politician or who people who need to use the A& E department to read this book.
I happily recommend for anyone who enjoys a good read but wants to learn something as well.
Little has changed... J.S. South Africa, 12 Aug 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which evoked many memories both sad and humorous, having trained and worked in the NHS for over 20 years. The sad factor is that I have been living abroad for 14 years now and it seems little has changed despite the numerous promises from a variety of politicians . The same problems and frustrations are highlighted such as bed management , abuse of the ambulance service etc. It is time the general public knew what really goes on and despite all the problems you certainly appreciate the NHS from a distance. It should be compulsory reading before any further damage can be done to this great institution.
Every politician should have to read this book, 14 May 2008
This is such an important book, despite its light-hearted and readable tone. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It was real and it was worrying. It set out clearly what it's like working in today's NHS. It outlined the problems, it outlined sensible solutions and it highlighted the madness of the current government's schemes. which should make us all fear for our future health provision. And it also told us about comedy items stuck up patients' bottoms. What more could you ask for in a book about A&E?
Seriously though, this book should be required reading for all politicians and it should have been reviewed and discussed by the broadsheet newspapers.
Hilariously frank, 07 May 2008
I have just read this book in 3 days - mostly on trains and buses - and had to try very hard not to make a spectacle of myself by laughing too much. Dr Nick paints a heart-warmingly honest portrait of life as an A and E doctor, its ups and downs, celebrations and frustrations, but best of all are the quirky characters he meets. His accounts are hilariously frank whilst still insightful, and compell the reader to a greater understanding of how hospitals work. A brilliant book.
V realistic view on today's NHS, 28 Apr 2008
I loved this book. It was the sort of book that is so accurate it is scary. I am not a doctor, but it reminded me of working in A+E as a radiographer many moons ago. I have never nodded in agreement and exclaimed "yes! that is really how it is!!" aloud when reading a book on the bus. I agree with the ideas that stem from the book such as the NHS being placed into the hands of the professionals and the patients that use it, and reducing the amount of Governmental control.
To those saying that the book is too political, well that is what it is like in today's NHS, too many targets, poor workforce planning etc is something that health professionals have to deal with on an everyday basis. Dr Edwards clearly loves the NHS for what it stands for, but his frustration with how it is managed is justified.
It is really like this....., 31 May 2007
Although it may be unpalatable to many, this is exactly what it was ( ?is) like to be junior doctor...I know i was one.
I'm now a consultant and things haven't changed much (other than for the worse)
Read it if you want to get a true perspective as opposed to the nonsense in Holby City, Casualty etc
Whilst you're at it take a look at the Cardiac Arrest series from the 90's now on DVD -- probaly the best hospital TV series ever made
Important reading for doctors in training, 20 Feb 2007
As a medical teacher I was keen to add my thoughts having
just read this book. Like other reviewers I found aspects of this book
negative, missing out a lot of the positive
points out about being a junior doctor.
Having said that there are some parts of the book which were very valuable.
Suicide among doctors is a real issue and it is vital all
doctors, particularly junior doctors, read the section on
pages 80-82; "Suicide is Painless". He writes; "So if
you're a doctor and you think it it's all over and your
whole world has gone irretrievably pear-shaped, I say
this: Bail out. Don't kill yourself. Leave your job. .....
Reclaim your life: have it over again. You're young.
You'll make new friends."
If you have issues relating to views on health service
managers, then read page 118.
And finally, a useful
quotation; "Accident and Emergency is the random anecdote
generator of the NHS, the strange attractor to which all
ridiculousness will gravitate." (Page 68)
The book is well worth a read, particularly for doctors in training.
Hilarious, 12 Dec 2005
This is the only book that tells it like it is about being a junior doctor in the UK. It's funny and dark. A must-read for all doctors and would-be doctors out there.
unrelentless ranting, 22 Mar 2005
This book is more or less a long, bitter rant. Now there are times when I like that kind of thing, but the negativity is overwhelming here, and incessant! There are some insights into life as a junior doctor to be gleaned if you are not a doctor and there is some (I think almost accidental) comment on real issues about the downsides of medical training. However I am in two minds as to whether I really learnt anything new or indeed if I enjoyed the read. This is a book to borrow from a friend or take out of the library, I don't think I'd buy it again though I am glad I read it.
Humorous to Cynical in 60 seconds, 30 Oct 2004
This book started out as an entertaining and humorous account about life as a junior doctor, and quickly disintegrated into a cynical and negative assault on nurses and patients - the very people vital to Foxton's success and employment. Do your health a favour and give it a miss.
A story finally told...., 20 Aug 2008
Finally a book that tells the story of the remarkable women nurses in WW2. From the first page the reader is immediately transported to the world that these women were part of. From their nursing training to the weird and wonderful details of their uniform.
If you think you know what nurses such as these did in WW2, then think again. The horrors they endured and the terrible situations they found themselves in will shock the reader and leave you with nothing but admiration for their spirit and bravery.
The book has plenty of quotes and paragraphs from the women themselves, and/or diary entries from that time. A few of the women are featured throughout the book, and the reader will find themselves taken vividly back to that time and seeing it all through the nurses' eyes and feeling like you are really getting to know these characters.
A superb book, and a very important book that anyone with an interest in WW2 should read.
Trust me BUY IT!! , 03 Nov 2008
Basically this book is amazing!! I dont read a lot but i'd booked to go away on holiday and needed a book to take so i was walking round the book store and saw this book, i just picked it up it cost like £8. So i was at home bored out of my mind so i thought i'd just have a skim through and if i dnt like it i'll take it back Monday........
I read over half the book in one night and quite a few times i was in stiches, some of the wackey things that happen in there (i wont name them all but i will give you a clue as to one of the things and that is PIE). I had to write this review, but i must recommend it to all people wishing to persue a career in medicine as it really is an eye opener to the effects that being a doctor will have on your social life and also your personal life.
Please go out and buy this book you'll love it!!!
An excellent read, 06 Oct 2008
I enjoyed reading the read. It was funny, witty and light reading. I now understand what happens within the NHS and a hospital, life of a junior doctor, disease, old age, death and a better understanding on society as a whole. I am very happy I bought this product.
The life of a house officer laid bare, 22 Sep 2008
This is an entertaining and insightful account of Max Pemberton's year as a house officer. Fresh from medical school and faced with real patients, Max's number one fear is that he will kill someone by mistake. But when he actually gets on the ward he realises he doesn't know how to do even the simplest thing, such as prescribing paracetamol. He is on the very steepest of learning curves, burdened by a seemingly impossible workload (though clearly not quite bad enough to prevent the writing of this book) and overseen by ghastly consultants whose attitudes appear to be at least 100 years out of date. As the year rolls on, Max encounters situations of real poignancy, hilarity and horror.
The diary-style entries make this book very easy to read but in places the writing was a little sloppy and there were some grammatical errors which bugged me so I deducted a star (sorry to be such a pedant).
So true..., 06 Sep 2008
I am only 3/4's of the way through this book and I think it is brilliant. As many have previously said, it is so very true...and not just for junior doctors but for anyone starting out in the medical profession. I have just qualified as a midwife and got my first job in a large consultant led unit. Max Pemberton has managed to express all the same feelings and experiences that I am currently having as a newly qualified midwife..."Will I ever get a break?", "Have I prescribed the right drug to the right person?" and ultimately "When will I kill my first patient?". All joking aside this book is nothing but fantastic and Max Pemberton has managed to add humour to the dark and depressing days that are the first year as a newly qualified in the wonder that is the NHS.
Just what the doctor ordered, 19 Aug 2008
This book I first heard about on Radio 4 when it was serialised and had me laughing and teary eyed. I got it and it didn't disappoint. It was funny, addictive, genuine and a real pleasure to read. It highlights the ups and downs and everything in between about being a doctor in the NHS.
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Customer Reviews
Ex District Midwife, 04 Sep 2008
This book is excellent, not only is it very funny but very illuminating as to how the NHS works now.
As a Conservative Councillor it grieves me to say where Labour have got it right but pulls no punches on where it has gone wrong.
I'd recommend every politician or who people who need to use the A& E department to read this book.
I happily recommend for anyone who enjoys a good read but wants to learn something as well.
Little has changed... J.S. South Africa, 12 Aug 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which evoked many memories both sad and humorous, having trained and worked in the NHS for over 20 years. The sad factor is that I have been living abroad for 14 years now and it seems little has changed despite the numerous promises from a variety of politicians . The same problems and frustrations are highlighted such as bed management , abuse of the ambulance service etc. It is time the general public knew what really goes on and despite all the problems you certainly appreciate the NHS from a distance. It should be compulsory reading before any further damage can be done to this great institution.
Every politician should have to read this book, 14 May 2008
This is such an important book, despite its light-hearted and readable tone. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It was real and it was worrying. It set out clearly what it's like working in today's NHS. It outlined the problems, it outlined sensible solutions and it highlighted the madness of the current government's schemes. which should make us all fear for our future health provision. And it also told us about comedy items stuck up patients' bottoms. What more could you ask for in a book about A&E?
Seriously though, this book should be required reading for all politicians and it should have been reviewed and discussed by the broadsheet newspapers.
Hilariously frank, 07 May 2008
I have just read this book in 3 days - mostly on trains and buses - and had to try very hard not to make a spectacle of myself by laughing too much. Dr Nick paints a heart-warmingly honest portrait of life as an A and E doctor, its ups and downs, celebrations and frustrations, but best of all are the quirky characters he meets. His accounts are hilariously frank whilst still insightful, and compell the reader to a greater understanding of how hospitals work. A brilliant book.
V realistic view on today's NHS, 28 Apr 2008
I loved this book. It was the sort of book that is so accurate it is scary. I am not a doctor, but it reminded me of working in A+E as a radiographer many moons ago. I have never nodded in agreement and exclaimed "yes! that is really how it is!!" aloud when reading a book on the bus. I agree with the ideas that stem from the book such as the NHS being placed into the hands of the professionals and the patients that use it, and reducing the amount of Governmental control.
To those saying that the book is too political, well that is what it is like in today's NHS, too many targets, poor workforce planning etc is something that health professionals have to deal with on an everyday basis. Dr Edwards clearly loves the NHS for what it stands for, but his frustration with how it is managed is justified.
It is really like this....., 31 May 2007
Although it may be unpalatable to many, this is exactly what it was ( ?is) like to be junior doctor...I know i was one.
I'm now a consultant and things haven't changed much (other than for the worse)
Read it if you want to get a true perspective as opposed to the nonsense in Holby City, Casualty etc
Whilst you're at it take a look at the Cardiac Arrest series from the 90's now on DVD -- probaly the best hospital TV series ever made
Important reading for doctors in training, 20 Feb 2007
As a medical teacher I was keen to add my thoughts having
just read this book. Like other reviewers I found aspects of this book
negative, missing out a lot of the positive
points out about being a junior doctor.
Having said that there are some parts of the book which were very valuable.
Suicide among doctors is a real issue and it is vital all
doctors, particularly junior doctors, read the section on
pages 80-82; "Suicide is Painless". He writes; "So if
you're a doctor and you think it it's all over and your
whole world has gone irretrievably pear-shaped, I say
this: Bail out. Don't kill yourself. Leave your job. .....
Reclaim your life: have it over again. You're young.
You'll make new friends."
If you have issues relating to views on health service
managers, then read page 118.
And finally, a useful
quotation; "Accident and Emergency is the random anecdote
generator of the NHS, the strange attractor to which all
ridiculousness will gravitate." (Page 68)
The book is well worth a read, particularly for doctors in training.
Hilarious, 12 Dec 2005
This is the only book that tells it like it is about being a junior doctor in the UK. It's funny and dark. A must-read for all doctors and would-be doctors out there.
unrelentless ranting, 22 Mar 2005
This book is more or less a long, bitter rant. Now there are times when I like that kind of thing, but the negativity is overwhelming here, and incessant! There are some insights into life as a junior doctor to be gleaned if you are not a doctor and there is some (I think almost accidental) comment on real issues about the downsides of medical training. However I am in two minds as to whether I really learnt anything new or indeed if I enjoyed the read. This is a book to borrow from a friend or take out of the library, I don't think I'd buy it again though I am glad I read it.
Humorous to Cynical in 60 seconds, 30 Oct 2004
This book started out as an entertaining and humorous account about life as a junior doctor, and quickly disintegrated into a cynical and negative assault on nurses and patients - the very people vital to Foxton's success and employment. Do your health a favour and give it a miss.
A story finally told...., 20 Aug 2008
Finally a book that tells the story of the remarkable women nurses in WW2. From the first page the reader is immediately transported to the world that these women were part of. From their nursing training to the weird and wonderful details of their uniform.
If you think you know what nurses such as these did in WW2, then think again. The horrors they endured and the terrible situations they found themselves in will shock the reader and leave you with nothing but admiration for their spirit and bravery.
The book has plenty of quotes and paragraphs from the women themselves, and/or diary entries from that time. A few of the women are featured throughout the book, and the reader will find themselves taken vividly back to that time and seeing it all through the nurses' eyes and feeling like you are really getting to know these characters.
A superb book, and a very important book that anyone with an interest in WW2 should read.
Trust me BUY IT!! , 03 Nov 2008
Basically this book is amazing!! I dont read a lot but i'd booked to go away on holiday and needed a book to take so i was walking round the book store and saw this book, i just picked it up it cost like £8. So i was at home bored out of my mind so i thought i'd just have a skim through and if i dnt like it i'll take it back Monday........
I read over half the book in one night and quite a few times i was in stiches, some of the wackey things that happen in there (i wont name them all but i will give you a clue as to one of the things and that is PIE). I had to write this review, but i must recommend it to all people wishing to persue a career in medicine as it really is an eye opener to the effects that being a doctor will have on your social life and also your personal life.
Please go out and buy this book you'll love it!!!
An excellent read, 06 Oct 2008
I enjoyed reading the read. It was funny, witty and light reading. I now understand what happens within the NHS and a hospital, life of a junior doctor, disease, old age, death and a better understanding on society as a whole. I am very happy I bought this product.
The life of a house officer laid bare, 22 Sep 2008
This is an entertaining and insightful account of Max Pemberton's year as a house officer. Fresh from medical school and faced with real patients, Max's number one fear is that he will kill someone by mistake. But when he actually gets on the ward he realises he doesn't know how to do even the simplest thing, such as prescribing paracetamol. He is on the very steepest of learning curves, burdened by a seemingly impossible workload (though clearly not quite bad enough to prevent the writing of this book) and overseen by ghastly consultants whose attitudes appear to be at least 100 years out of date. As the year rolls on, Max encounters situations of real poignancy, hilarity and horror.
The diary-style entries make this book very easy to read but in places the writing was a little sloppy and there were some grammatical errors which bugged me so I deducted a star (sorry to be such a pedant).
So true..., 06 Sep 2008
I am only 3/4's of the way through this book and I think it is brilliant. As many have previously said, it is so very true...and not just for junior doctors but for anyone starting out in the medical profession. I have just qualified as a midwife and got my first job in a large consultant led unit. Max Pemberton has managed to express all the same feelings and experiences that I am currently having as a newly qualified midwife..."Will I ever get a break?", "Have I prescribed the right drug to the right person?" and ultimately "When will I kill my first patient?". All joking aside this book is nothing but fantastic and Max Pemberton has managed to add humour to the dark and depressing days that are the first year as a newly qualified in the wonder that is the NHS.
Just what the doctor ordered, 19 Aug 2008
This book I first heard about on Radio 4 when it was serialised and had me laughing and teary eyed. I got it and it didn't disappoint. It was funny, addictive, genuine and a real pleasure to read. It highlights the ups and downs and everything in between about being a doctor in the NHS.
Aren`t we lucky?, 01 Nov 2008
This book really made me think how materialistic we are these days. I was born in the 60s - was it really just ten or so years before, that all this was happening? My own mum could have been on those pages, having my older sister. We are very fortunate, in the UK at least,to have the NHS, warts and all. Sadly there are places in the world where women still suffer, just for being female. Thank the lucky stars for those sisters of mercy and the angels, the nurses, who joined them to see the babies into the world. This book has touched me in a way no other has. I feel humbled and decidedly less inclined to grumble over trivialities. Superb book. Reads like a novel too. More from the Worth(y) one!!!!
East end life and people in the 1950s , 24 Sep 2008
A truly enjoyable and inspiring read. Most reviewers have highlighted the ability of the writer to draw the reader in and provoke a mixture of emotions. It's an excellent social history too. I've now ordered Father Joe Williamson's autobiography and will be reading the next two instalments from Jennifer in the future. Read it and weep (and laugh)
Jennifer Worth shares her experiences of catching babies and caring for mothers in the 1950's, 08 Sep 2008
The writing by Ms Worth flows, it's funny at times and it's sad at times (which is all good!). The only complaint I have is that Ms Worth told the stories of certain characters too much, and did not focus on the midwifery side of things enough. This is not a bad book, if you expect a lovely story of the people and places surrounding Ms Worth during her time as a midwife, staying with some Nuns in London, and a few births scattered here and there.
However, I was not satisfied with the book as I would have liked to read more about Ms Worth's job and less about other people. I loved to hear about who she was caring for and their families, but I was not interested in the Nuns, or the random people who were not having babies.
Ms Worth describes births in detail, how different they were in the 1950's compared to the 21st Century. I loved that the women birthed at home, I loved that they would warm water in preparation for the new arrival, I loved that they would warm the towels by the fire and the midwife would cycle to the family's home on a bicycle. The story of Conchita was really heart-warming.
I am happy that I have read the book, and my next mission is to find a book about a midwife that is set in more modern settings.
This era should never be forgotten, 08 Sep 2008
This book covers relatively recent history and shows how far maternity care has come. The families here live in extremely poor conditions, and their stories are harrowing . But we should never forget that, even in more prosperous homes, our mothers and grandmothers gave birth when there were few washing machines, many homes had outdoor toilets and heating often came from coal carried in from outdoors. Today we groan about poor maternity leave and forget that previous generations of women struggled with overcrowding when cleanliness was the measure of a woman.
Read this and feel lucky!Quick, Boil Some Water!: The Story of Childbirth in Our Grandmother's Day
Bittersweet memories , 27 Aug 2008
This is a brilliant book that at times made me cry, and at others, laugh out loud. My own mother was a Cockney, born in the East End in 1920, and reading this book brought back bitter sweet memories of the way that she was, and the wonderful stories that she used to tell. It has helped me to appreciate her humour much more and understand where some of my own ways have come from. I particularly enjoyed the stories of Sister Evangelina and her escapades across the Thames, jumping from barge to barge and the obsession with bodily functions, and also Sister Monica Joan with her knitting needles. As for the ordinary women, what happened to Mary once she left prison, how did Mrs Jenkins' children die, and how many more children did Conchita have. One of my aunts had 22 of them, but 25?
Most of us cannot imagine the conditions that these women lived and worked in, and the daily struggle for survival. The modern existence is pampered in comparison. We complain about not having two bathrooms, while these women had one communal tap to each floor of the flats that they lived in and one shared toilet. Times may have been hard, and money tight, but they had more balls and more grit than anything you would see today, with no counsellors in sight!
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Customer Reviews
Ex District Midwife, 04 Sep 2008
This book is excellent, not only is it very funny but very illuminating as to how the NHS works now.
As a Conservative Councillor it grieves me to say where Labour have got it right but pulls no punches on where it has gone wrong.
I'd recommend every politician or who people who need to use the A& E department to read this book.
I happily recommend for anyone who enjoys a good read but wants to learn something as well. Little has changed... J.S. South Africa, 12 Aug 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which evoked many memories both sad and humorous, having trained and worked in the NHS for over 20 years. The sad factor is that I have been living abroad for 14 years now and it seems little has changed despite the numerous promises from a variety of politicians . The same problems and frustrations are highlighted such as bed management , abuse of the ambulance service etc. It is time the general public knew what really goes on and despite all the problems you certainly appreciate the NHS from a distance. It should be compulsory reading before any further damage can be done to this great institution. Every politician should have to read this book, 14 May 2008
This is such an important book, despite its light-hearted and readable tone. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It was real and it was worrying. It set out clearly what it's like working in today's NHS. It outlined the problems, it outlined sensible solutions and it highlighted the madness of the current government's schemes. which should make us all fear for our future health provision. And it also told us about comedy items stuck up patients' bottoms. What more could you ask for in a book about A&E?
Seriously though, this book should be required reading for all politicians and it should have been reviewed and discussed by the broadsheet newspapers. Hilariously frank, 07 May 2008
I have just read this book in 3 days - mostly on trains and buses - and had to try very hard not to make a spectacle of myself by laughing too much. Dr Nick paints a heart-warmingly honest portrait of life as an A and E doctor, its ups and downs, celebrations and frustrations, but best of all are the quirky characters he meets. His accounts are hilariously frank whilst still insightful, and compell the reader to a greater understanding of how hospitals work. A brilliant book. V realistic view on today's NHS, 28 Apr 2008
I loved this book. It was the sort of book that is so accurate it is scary. I am not a doctor, but it reminded me of working in A+E as a radiographer many moons ago. I have never nodded in agreement and exclaimed "yes! that is really how it is!!" aloud when reading a book on the bus. I agree with the ideas that stem from the book such as the NHS being placed into the hands of the professionals and the patients that use it, and reducing the amount of Governmental control.
To those saying that the book is too political, well that is what it is like in today's NHS, too many targets, poor workforce planning etc is something that health professionals have to deal with on an everyday basis. Dr Edwards clearly loves the NHS for what it stands for, but his frustration with how it is managed is justified.
It is really like this....., 31 May 2007
Although it may be unpalatable to many, this is exactly what it was ( ?is) like to be junior doctor...I know i was one.
I'm now a consultant and things haven't changed much (other than for the worse)
Read it if you want to get a true perspective as opposed to the nonsense in Holby City, Casualty etc
Whilst you're at it take a look at the Cardiac Arrest series from the 90's now on DVD -- probaly the best hospital TV series ever made Important reading for doctors in training, 20 Feb 2007
As a medical teacher I was keen to add my thoughts having
just read this book. Like other reviewers I found aspects of this book
negative, missing out a lot of the positive
points out about being a junior doctor.
Having said that there are some parts of the book which were very valuable.
Suicide among doctors is a real issue and it is vital all
doctors, particularly junior doctors, read the section on
pages 80-82; "Suicide is Painless". He writes; "So if
you're a doctor and you think it it's all over and your
whole world has gone irretrievably pear-shaped, I say
this: Bail out. Don't kill yourself. Leave your job. .....
Reclaim your life: have it over again. You're young.
You'll make new friends."
If you have issues relating to views on health service
managers, then read page 118.
And finally, a useful
quotation; "Accident and Emergency is the random anecdote
generator of the NHS, the strange attractor to which all
ridiculousness will gravitate." (Page 68)
The book is well worth a read, particularly for doctors in training.
Hilarious, 12 Dec 2005
This is the only book that tells it like it is about being a junior doctor in the UK. It's funny and dark. A must-read for all doctors and would-be doctors out there. unrelentless ranting, 22 Mar 2005
This book is more or less a long, bitter rant. Now there are times when I like that kind of thing, but the negativity is overwhelming here, and incessant! There are some insights into life as a junior doctor to be gleaned if you are not a doctor and there is some (I think almost accidental) comment on real issues about the downsides of medical training. However I am in two minds as to whether I really learnt anything new or indeed if I enjoyed the read. This is a book to borrow from a friend or take out of the library, I don't think I'd buy it again though I am glad I read it. Humorous to Cynical in 60 seconds, 30 Oct 2004
This book started out as an entertaining and humorous account about life as a junior doctor, and quickly disintegrated into a cynical and negative assault on nurses and patients - the very people vital to Foxton's success and employment. Do your health a favour and give it a miss. A story finally told...., 20 Aug 2008
Finally a book that tells the story of the remarkable women nurses in WW2. From the first page the reader is immediately transported to the world that these women were part of. From their nursing training to the weird and wonderful details of their uniform.
If you think you know what nurses such as these did in WW2, then think again. The horrors they endured and the terrible situations they found themselves in will shock the reader and leave you with nothing but admiration for their spirit and bravery.
The book has plenty of quotes and paragraphs from the women themselves, and/or diary entries from that time. A few of the women are featured throughout the book, and the reader will find themselves taken vividly back to that time and seeing it all through the nurses' eyes and feeling like you are really getting to know these characters.
A superb book, and a very important book that anyone with an interest in WW2 should read. Trust me BUY IT!! , 03 Nov 2008
Basically this book is amazing!! I dont read a lot but i'd booked to go away on holiday and needed a book to take so i was walking round the book store and saw this book, i just picked it up it cost like £8. So i was at home bored out of my mind so i thought i'd just have a skim through and if i dnt like it i'll take it back Monday........
I read over half the book in one night and quite a few times i was in stiches, some of the wackey things that happen in there (i wont name them all but i will give you a clue as to one of the things and that is PIE). I had to write this review, but i must recommend it to all people wishing to persue a career in medicine as it really is an eye opener to the effects that being a doctor will have on your social life and also your personal life.
Please go out and buy this book you'll love it!!! An excellent read, 06 Oct 2008
I enjoyed reading the read. It was funny, witty and light reading. I now understand what happens within the NHS and a hospital, life of a junior doctor, disease, old age, death and a better understanding on society as a whole. I am very happy I bought this product. The life of a house officer laid bare, 22 Sep 2008
This is an entertaining and insightful account of Max Pemberton's year as a house officer. Fresh from medical school and faced with real patients, Max's number one fear is that he will kill someone by mistake. But when he actually gets on the ward he realises he doesn't know how to do even the simplest thing, such as prescribing paracetamol. He is on the very steepest of learning curves, burdened by a seemingly impossible workload (though clearly not quite bad enough to prevent the writing of this book) and overseen by ghastly consultants whose attitudes appear to be at least 100 years out of date. As the year rolls on, Max encounters situations of real poignancy, hilarity and horror.
The diary-style entries make this book very easy to read but in places the writing was a little sloppy and there were some grammatical errors which bugged me so I deducted a star (sorry to be such a pedant). So true..., 06 Sep 2008
I am only 3/4's of the way through this book and I think it is brilliant. As many have previously said, it is so very true...and not just for junior doctors but for anyone starting out in the medical profession. I have just qualified as a midwife and got my first job in a large consultant led unit. Max Pemberton has managed to express all the same feelings and experiences that I am currently having as a newly qualified midwife..."Will I ever get a break?", "Have I prescribed the right drug to the right person?" and ultimately "When will I kill my first patient?". All joking aside this book is nothing but fantastic and Max Pemberton has managed to add humour to the dark and depressing days that are the first year as a newly qualified in the wonder that is the NHS. Just what the doctor ordered, 19 Aug 2008
This book I first heard about on Radio 4 when it was serialised and had me laughing and teary eyed. I got it and it didn't disappoint. It was funny, addictive, genuine and a real pleasure to read. It highlights the ups and downs and everything in between about being a doctor in the NHS. Aren`t we lucky?, 01 Nov 2008
This book really made me think how materialistic we are these days. I was born in the 60s - was it really just ten or so years before, that all this was happening? My own mum could have been on those pages, having my older sister. We are very fortunate, in the UK at least,to have the NHS, warts and all. Sadly there are places in the world where women still suffer, just for being female. Thank the lucky stars for those sisters of mercy and the angels, the nurses, who joined them to see the babies into the world. This book has touched me in a way no other has. I feel humbled and decidedly less inclined to grumble over trivialities. Superb book. Reads like a novel too. More from the Worth(y) one!!!! East end life and people in the 1950s , 24 Sep 2008
A truly enjoyable and inspiring read. Most reviewers have highlighted the ability of the writer to draw the reader in and provoke a mixture of emotions. It's an excellent social history too. I've now ordered Father Joe Williamson's autobiography and will be reading the next two instalments from Jennifer in the future. Read it and weep (and laugh) Jennifer Worth shares her experiences of catching babies and caring for mothers in the 1950's, 08 Sep 2008
The writing by Ms Worth flows, it's funny at times and it's sad at times (which is all good!). The only complaint I have is that Ms Worth told the stories of certain characters too much, and did not focus on the midwifery side of things enough. This is not a bad book, if you expect a lovely story of the people and places surrounding Ms Worth during her time as a midwife, staying with some Nuns in London, and a few births scattered here and there.
However, I was not satisfied with the book as I would have liked to read more about Ms Worth's job and less about other people. I loved to hear about who she was caring for and their families, but I was not interested in the Nuns, or the random people who were not having babies.
Ms Worth describes births in detail, how different they were in the 1950's compared to the 21st Century. I loved that the women birthed at home, I loved that they would warm water in preparation for the new arrival, I loved that they would warm the towels by the fire and the midwife would cycle to the family's home on a bicycle. The story of Conchita was really heart-warming.
I am happy that I have read the book, and my next mission is to find a book about a midwife that is set in more modern settings. This era should never be forgotten, 08 Sep 2008
This book covers relatively recent history and shows how far maternity care has come. The families here live in extremely poor conditions, and their stories are harrowing . But we should never forget that, even in more prosperous homes, our mothers and grandmothers gave birth when there were few washing machines, many homes had outdoor toilets and heating often came from coal carried in from outdoors. Today we groan about poor maternity leave and forget that previous generations of women struggled with overcrowding when cleanliness was the measure of a woman.
Read this and feel lucky!Quick, Boil Some Water!: The Story of Childbirth in Our Grandmother's Day Bittersweet memories , 27 Aug 2008
This is a brilliant book that at times made me cry, and at others, laugh out loud. My own mother was a Cockney, born in the East End in 1920, and reading this book brought back bitter sweet memories of the way that she was, and the wonderful stories that she used to tell. It has helped me to appreciate her humour much more and understand where some of my own ways have come from. I particularly enjoyed the stories of Sister Evangelina and her escapades across the Thames, jumping from barge to barge and the obsession with bodily functions, and also Sister Monica Joan with her knitting needles. As for the ordinary women, what happened to Mary once she left prison, how did Mrs Jenkins' children die, and how many more children did Conchita have. One of my aunts had 22 of them, but 25?
Most of us cannot imagine the conditions that these women lived and worked in, and the daily struggle for survival. The modern existence is pampered in comparison. We complain about not having two bathrooms, while these women had one communal tap to each floor of the flats that they lived in and one shared toilet. Times may have been hard, and money tight, but they had more balls and more grit than anything you would see today, with no counsellors in sight! very moving account, 01 Jun 2005
I found this title particuarly interesting as my Aunt served as a nurse during World War One, winning a Red Cross medal for her bravery, and as I was reading about this author's experiences I kept asking myself, 'I wonder if she and my aunt ever met?' This is a very moving account and I loved the story about the little dog 'Bombe' the nursing staff found amongst the ruins and adopted. I also liked the fact that this nurse was a bit of a rebel, and didn't always do as she was told..she had a mind of her own and confessed she and a friend were sometimes 'naughty' and sneaked off to ride on the officer's horses! You go, girl! I loved the account of the nurses continuing to play hide and seek amongst the ambulances on Christmas day, despite heavy shelling by the Germans - I guess they wanted to be caught by the ambulance drivers who were chasing them waving bits of mistletoe!
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Customer Reviews
Ex District Midwife, 04 Sep 2008
This book is excellent, not only is it very funny but very illuminating as to how the NHS works now.
As a Conservative Councillor it grieves me to say where Labour have got it right but pulls no punches on where it has gone wrong.
I'd recommend every politician or who people who need to use the A& E department to read this book.
I happily recommend for anyone who enjoys a good read but wants to learn something as well. Little has changed... J.S. South Africa, 12 Aug 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which evoked many memories both sad and humorous, having trained and worked in the NHS for over 20 years. The sad factor is that I have been living abroad for 14 years now and it seems little has changed despite the numerous promises from a variety of politicians . The same problems and frustrations are highlighted such as bed management , abuse of the ambulance service etc. It is time the general public knew what really goes on and despite all the problems you certainly appreciate the NHS from a distance. It should be compulsory reading before any further damage can be done to this great institution. Every politician should have to read this book, 14 May 2008
This is such an important book, despite its light-hearted and readable tone. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It was real and it was worrying. It set out clearly what it's like working in today's NHS. It outlined the problems, it outlined sensible solutions and it highlighted the madness of the current government's schemes. which should make us all fear for our future health provision. And it also told us about comedy items stuck up patients' bottoms. What more could you ask for in a book about A&E?
Seriously though, this book should be required reading for all politicians and it should have been reviewed and discussed by the broadsheet newspapers. Hilariously frank, 07 May 2008
I have just read this book in 3 days - mostly on trains and buses - and had to try very hard not to make a spectacle of myself by laughing too much. Dr Nick paints a heart-warmingly honest portrait of life as an A and E doctor, its ups and downs, celebrations and frustrations, but best of all are the quirky characters he meets. His accounts are hilariously frank whilst still insightful, and compell the reader to a greater understanding of how hospitals work. A brilliant book. V realistic view on today's NHS, 28 Apr 2008
I loved this book. It was the sort of book that is so accurate it is scary. I am not a doctor, but it reminded me of working in A+E as a radiographer many moons ago. I have never nodded in agreement and exclaimed "yes! that is really how it is!!" aloud when reading a book on the bus. I agree with the ideas that stem from the book such as the NHS being placed into the hands of the professionals and the patients that use it, and reducing the amount of Governmental control.
To those saying that the book is too political, well that is what it is like in today's NHS, too many targets, poor workforce planning etc is something that health professionals have to deal with on an everyday basis. Dr Edwards clearly loves the NHS for what it stands for, but his frustration with how it is managed is justified.
It is really like this....., 31 May 2007
Although it may be unpalatable to many, this is exactly what it was ( ?is) like to be junior doctor...I know i was one.
I'm now a consultant and things haven't changed much (other than for the worse)
Read it if you want to get a true perspective as opposed to the nonsense in Holby City, Casualty etc
Whilst you're at it take a look at the Cardiac Arrest series from the 90's now on DVD -- probaly the best hospital TV series ever made Important reading for doctors in training, 20 Feb 2007
As a medical teacher I was keen to add my thoughts having
just read this book. Like other reviewers I found aspects of this book
negative, missing out a lot of the positive
points out about being a junior doctor.
Having said that there are some parts of the book which were very valuable.
Suicide among doctors is a real issue and it is vital all
doctors, particularly junior doctors, read the section on
pages 80-82; "Suicide is Painless". He writes; "So if
you're a doctor and you think it it's all over and your
whole world has gone irretrievably pear-shaped, I say
this: Bail out. Don't kill yourself. Leave your job. .....
Reclaim your life: have it over again. You're young.
You'll make new friends."
If you have issues relating to views on health service
managers, then read page 118.
And finally, a useful
quotation; "Accident and Emergency is the random anecdote
generator of the NHS, the strange attractor to which all
ridiculousness will gravitate." (Page 68)
The book is well worth a read, particularly for doctors in training.
Hilarious, 12 Dec 2005
This is the only book that tells it like it is about being a junior doctor in the UK. It's funny and dark. A must-read for all doctors and would-be doctors out there. unrelentless ranting, 22 Mar 2005
This book is more or less a long, bitter rant. Now there are times when I like that kind of thing, but the negativity is overwhelming here, and incessant! There are some insights into life as a junior doctor to be gleaned if you are not a doctor and there is some (I think almost accidental) comment on real issues about the downsides of medical training. However I am in two minds as to whether I really learnt anything new or indeed if I enjoyed the read. This is a book to borrow from a friend or take out of the library, I don't think I'd buy it again though I am glad I read it. Humorous to Cynical in 60 seconds, 30 Oct 2004
This book started out as an entertaining and humorous account about life as a junior doctor, and quickly disintegrated into a cynical and negative assault on nurses and patients - the very people vital to Foxton's success and employment. Do your health a favour and give it a miss. A story finally told...., 20 Aug 2008
Finally a book that tells the story of the remarkable women nurses in WW2. From the first page the reader is immediately transported to the world that these women were part of. From their nursing training to the weird and wonderful details of their uniform.
If you think you know what nurses such as these did in WW2, then think again. The horrors they endured and the terrible situations they found themselves in will shock the reader and leave you with nothing but admiration for their spirit and bravery.
The book has plenty of quotes and paragraphs from the women themselves, and/or diary entries from that time. A few of the women are featured throughout the book, and the reader will find themselves taken vividly back to that time and seeing it all through the nurses' eyes and feeling like you are really getting to know these characters.
A superb book, and a very important book that anyone with an interest in WW2 should read. Trust me BUY IT!! , 03 Nov 2008
Basically this book is amazing!! I dont read a lot but i'd booked to go away on holiday and needed a book to take so i was walking round the book store and saw this book, i just picked it up it cost like £8. So i was at home bored out of my mind so i thought i'd just have a skim through and if i dnt like it i'll take it back Monday........
I read over half the book in one night and quite a few times i was in stiches, some of the wackey things that happen in there (i wont name them all but i will give you a clue as to one of the things and that is PIE). I had to write this review, but i must recommend it to all people wishing to persue a career in medicine as it really is an eye opener to the effects that being a doctor will have on your social life and also your personal life.
Please go out and buy this book you'll love it!!! An excellent read, 06 Oct 2008
I enjoyed reading the read. It was funny, witty and light reading. I now understand what happens within the NHS and a hospital, life of a junior doctor, disease, old age, death and a better understanding on society as a whole. I am very happy I bought this product. The life of a house officer laid bare, 22 Sep 2008
This is an entertaining and insightful account of Max Pemberton's year as a house officer. Fresh from medical school and faced with real patients, Max's number one fear is that he will kill someone by mistake. But when he actually gets on the ward he realises he doesn't know how to do even the simplest thing, such as prescribing paracetamol. He is on the very steepest of learning curves, burdened by a seemingly impossible workload (though clearly not quite bad enough to prevent the writing of this book) and overseen by ghastly consultants whose attitudes appear to be at least 100 years out of date. As the year rolls on, Max encounters situations of real poignancy, hilarity and horror.
The diary-style entries make this book very easy to read but in places the writing was a little sloppy and there were some grammatical errors which bugged me so I deducted a star (sorry to be such a pedant). So true..., 06 Sep 2008
I am only 3/4's of the way through this book and I think it is brilliant. As many have previously said, it is so very true...and not just for junior doctors but for anyone starting out in the medical profession. I have just qualified as a midwife and got my first job in a large consultant led unit. Max Pemberton has managed to express all the same feelings and experiences that I am currently having as a newly qualified midwife..."Will I ever get a break?", "Have I prescribed the right drug to the right person?" and ultimately "When will I kill my first patient?". All joking aside this book is nothing but fantastic and Max Pemberton has managed to add humour to the dark and depressing days that are the first year as a newly qualified in the wonder that is the NHS. Just what the doctor ordered, 19 Aug 2008
This book I first heard about on Radio 4 when it was serialised and had me laughing and teary eyed. I got it and it didn't disappoint. It was funny, addictive, genuine and a real pleasure to read. It highlights the ups and downs and everything in between about being a doctor in the NHS. Aren`t we lucky?, 01 Nov 2008
This book really made me think how materialistic we are these days. I was born in the 60s - was it really just ten or so years before, that all this was happening? My own mum could have been on those pages, having my older sister. We are very fortunate, in the UK at least,to have the NHS, warts and all. Sadly there are places in the world where women still suffer, just for being female. Thank the lucky stars for those sisters of mercy and the angels, the nurses, who joined them to see the babies into the world. This book has touched me in a way no other has. I feel humbled and decidedly less inclined to grumble over trivialities. Superb book. Reads like a novel too. More from the Worth(y) one!!!! East end life and people in the 1950s , 24 Sep 2008
A truly enjoyable and inspiring read. Most reviewers have highlighted the ability of the writer to draw the reader in and provoke a mixture of emotions. It's an excellent social history too. I've now ordered Father Joe Williamson's autobiography and will be reading the next two instalments from Jennifer in the future. Read it and weep (and laugh) Jennifer Worth shares her experiences of catching babies and caring for mothers in the 1950's, 08 Sep 2008
The writing by Ms Worth flows, it's funny at times and it's sad at times (which is all good!). The only complaint I have is that Ms Worth told the stories of certain characters too much, and did not focus on the midwifery side of things enough. This is not a bad book, if you expect a lovely story of the people and places surrounding Ms Worth during her time as a midwife, staying with some Nuns in London, and a few births scattered here and there.
However, I was not satisfied with the book as I would have liked to read more about Ms Worth's job and less about other people. I loved to hear about who she was caring for and their families, but I was not interested in the Nuns, or the random people who were not having babies.
Ms Worth describes births in detail, how different they were in the 1950's compared to the 21st Century. I loved that the women birthed at home, I loved that they would warm water in preparation for the new arrival, I loved that they would warm the towels by the fire and the midwife would cycle to the family's home on a bicycle. The story of Conchita was really heart-warming.
I am happy that I have read the book, and my next mission is to find a book about a midwife that is set in more modern settings. This era should never be forgotten, 08 Sep 2008
This book covers relatively recent history and shows how far maternity care has come. The families here live in extremely poor conditions, and their stories are harrowing . But we should never forget that, even in more prosperous homes, our mothers and grandmothers gave birth when there were few washing machines, many homes had outdoor toilets and heating often came from coal carried in from outdoors. Today we groan about poor maternity leave and forget that previous generations of women struggled with overcrowding when cleanliness was the measure of a woman.
Read this and feel lucky!Quick, Boil Some Water!: The Story of Childbirth in Our Grandmother's Day Bittersweet memories , 27 Aug 2008
This is a brilliant book that at times made me cry, and at others, laugh out loud. My own mother was a Cockney, born in the East End in 1920, and reading this book brought back bitter sweet memories of the way that she was, and the wonderful stories that she used to tell. It has helped me to appreciate her humour much more and understand where some of my own ways have come from. I particularly enjoyed the stories of Sister Evangelina and her escapades across the Thames, jumping from barge to barge and the obsession with bodily functions, and also Sister Monica Joan with her knitting needles. As for the ordinary women, what happened to Mary once she left prison, how did Mrs Jenkins' children die, and how many more children did Conchita have. One of my aunts had 22 of them, but 25?
Most of us cannot imagine the conditions that these women lived and worked in, and the daily struggle for survival. The modern existence is pampered in comparison. We complain about not having two bathrooms, while these women had one communal tap to each floor of the flats that they lived in and one shared toilet. Times may have been hard, and money tight, but they had more balls and more grit than anything you would see today, with no counsellors in sight! very moving account, 01 Jun 2005
I found this title particuarly interesting as my Aunt served as a nurse during World War One, winning a Red Cross medal for her bravery, and as I was reading about this author's experiences I kept asking myself, 'I wonder if she and my aunt ever met?' This is a very moving account and I loved the story about the little dog 'Bombe' the nursing staff found amongst the ruins and adopted. I also liked the fact that this nurse was a bit of a rebel, and didn't always do as she was told..she had a mind of her own and confessed she and a friend were sometimes 'naughty' and sneaked off to ride on the officer's horses! You go, girl! I loved the account of the nurses continuing to play hide and seek amongst the ambulances on Christmas day, despite heavy shelling by the Germans - I guess they wanted to be caught by the ambulance drivers who were chasing them waving bits of mistletoe!
a step back in time, 21 Mar 2005
As soon as I picked up this book I was living in the past. This book really took me back in time....bringing back many long-forgotten and happy memories of the 1950's. It was amazing also how the author's training experiences mirrored my own... a highly recommended, entertaining read, very well-written that has you engrossed from start to finish
an excellent read!, 21 Jan 2005
Once I'd picked this book up, I couldn't put it down: I found it a rivetting read from start to finish. It certainly brought the memories flooding back.
It has something in it for everyone, including a good old-fashioned romance...plus a healthy does of humour.
After I'd finished reading it, I gave it to my daughter to read (who is not a nurse) and she also enjoyed it, saying she expected it to be slighty stuffy and not her thing, but instead she found herself caught up in the days of rock and roll and Teddy Boys, and said this book was written so she could picture it all really clear as if she were there (and she wasn't born to the seventies!)and had plenty else to interest her apart from just the nursing.
Well recommended!
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Customer Reviews
Ex District Midwife, 04 Sep 2008
This book is excellent, not only is it very funny but very illuminating as to how the NHS works now.
As a Conservative Councillor it grieves me to say where Labour have got it right but pulls no punches on where it has gone wrong.
I'd recommend every politician or who people who need to use the A& E department to read this book.
I happily recommend for anyone who enjoys a good read but wants to learn something as well.
Little has changed... J.S. South Africa, 12 Aug 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which evoked many memories both sad and humorous, having trained and worked in the NHS for over 20 years. The sad factor is that I have been living abroad for 14 years now and it seems little has changed despite the numerous promises from a variety of politicians . The same problems and frustrations are highlighted such as bed management , abuse of the ambulance service etc. It is time the general public knew what really goes on and despite all the problems you certainly appreciate the NHS from a distance. It should be compulsory reading before any further damage can be done to this great institution.
Every politician should have to read this book, 14 May 2008
This is such an important book, despite its light-hearted and readable tone. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It was real and it was worrying. It set out clearly what it's like working in today's NHS. It outlined the problems, it outlined sensible solutions and it highlighted the madness of the current government's schemes. which should make us all fear for our future health provision. And it also told us about comedy items stuck up patients' bottoms. What more could you ask for in a book about A&E?
Seriously though, this book should be required reading for all politicians and it should have been reviewed and discussed by the broadsheet newspapers.
Hilariously frank, 07 May 2008
I have just read this book in 3 days - mostly on trains and buses - and had to try very hard not to make a spectacle of myself by laughing too much. Dr Nick paints a heart-warmingly honest portrait of life as an A and E doctor, its ups and downs, celebrations and frustrations, but best of all are the quirky characters he meets. His accounts are hilariously frank whilst still insightful, and compell the reader to a greater understanding of how hospitals work. A brilliant book.
V realistic view on today's NHS, 28 Apr 2008
I loved this book. It was the sort of book that is so accurate it is scary. I am not a doctor, but it reminded me of working in A+E as a radiographer many moons ago. I have never nodded in agreement and exclaimed "yes! that is really how it is!!" aloud when reading a book on the bus. I agree with the ideas that stem from the book such as the NHS being placed into the hands of the professionals and the patients that use it, and reducing the amount of Governmental control.
To those saying that the book is too political, well that is what it is like in today's NHS, too many targets, poor workforce planning etc is something that health professionals have to deal with on an everyday basis. Dr Edwards clearly loves the NHS for what it stands for, but his frustration with how it is managed is justified.
It is really like this....., 31 May 2007
Although it may be unpalatable to many, this is exactly what it was ( ?is) like to be junior doctor...I know i was one.
I'm now a consultant and things haven't changed much (other than for the worse)
Read it if you want to get a true perspective as opposed to the nonsense in Holby City, Casualty etc
Whilst you're at it take a look at the Cardiac Arrest series from the 90's now on DVD -- probaly the best hospital TV series ever made
Important reading for doctors in training, 20 Feb 2007
As a medical teacher I was keen to add my thoughts having
just read this book. Like other reviewers I found aspects of this book
negative, missing out a lot of the positive
points out about being a junior doctor.
Having said that there are some parts of the book which were very valuable.
Suicide among doctors is a real issue and it is vital all
doctors, particularly junior doctors, read the section on
pages 80-82; "Suicide is Painless". He writes; "So if
you're a doctor and you think it it's all over and your
whole world has gone irretrievably pear-shaped, I say
this: Bail out. Don't kill yourself. Leave your job. .....
Reclaim your life: have it over again. You're young.
You'll make new friends."
If you have issues relating to views on health service
managers, then read page 118.
And finally, a useful
quotation; "Accident and Emergency is the random anecdote
generator of the NHS, the strange attractor to which all
ridiculousness will gravitate." (Page 68)
The book is well worth a read, particularly for doctors in training.
Hilarious, 12 Dec 2005
This is the only book that tells it like it is about being a junior doctor in the UK. It's funny and dark. A must-read for all doctors and would-be doctors out there.
unrelentless ranting, 22 Mar 2005
This book is more or less a long, bitter rant. Now there are times when I like that kind of thing, but the negativity is overwhelming here, and incessant! There are some insights into life as a junior doctor to be gleaned if you are not a doctor and there is some (I think almost accidental) comment on real issues about the downsides of medical training. However I am in two minds as to whether I really learnt anything new or indeed if I enjoyed the read. This is a book to borrow from a friend or take out of the library, I don't think I'd buy it again though I am glad I read it.
Humorous to Cynical in 60 seconds, 30 Oct 2004
This book started out as an entertaining and humorous account about life as a junior doctor, and quickly disintegrated into a cynical and negative assault on nurses and patients - the very people vital to Foxton's success and employment. Do your health a favour and give it a miss.
A story finally told...., 20 Aug 2008
Finally a book that tells the story of the remarkable women nurses in WW2. From the first page the reader is immediately transported to the world that these women were part of. From their nursing training to the weird and wonderful details of their uniform.
If you think you know what nurses such as these did in WW2, then think again. The horrors they endured and the terrible situations they found themselves in will shock the reader and leave you with nothing but admiration for their spirit and bravery.
The book has plenty of quotes and paragraphs from the women themselves, and/or diary entries from that time. A few of the women are featured throughout the book, and the reader will find themselves taken vividly back to that time and seeing it all through the nurses' eyes and feeling like you are really getting to know these characters.
A superb book, and a very important book that anyone with an interest in WW2 should read.
Trust me BUY IT!! , 03 Nov 2008
Basically this book is amazing!! I dont read a lot but i'd booked to go away on holiday and needed a book to take so i was walking round the book store and saw this book, i just picked it up it cost like £8. So i was at home bored out of my mind so i thought i'd just have a skim through and if i dnt like it i'll take it back Monday........
I read over half the book in one night and quite a few times i was in stiches, some of the wackey things that happen in there (i wont name them all but i will give you a clue as to one of the things and that is PIE). I had to write this review, but i must recommend it to all people wishing to persue a career in medicine as it really is an eye opener to the effects that being a doctor will have on your social life and also your personal life.
Please go out and buy this book you'll love it!!!
An excellent read, 06 Oct 2008
I enjoyed reading the read. It was funny, witty and light reading. I now understand what happens within the NHS and a hospital, life of a junior doctor, disease, old age, death and a better understanding on society as a whole. I am very happy I bought this product.
The life of a house officer laid bare, 22 Sep 2008
This is an entertaining and insightful account of Max Pemberton's year as a house officer. Fresh from medical school and faced with real patients, Max's number one fear is that he will kill someone by mistake. But when he actually gets on the ward he realises he doesn't know how to do even the simplest thing, such as prescribing paracetamol. He is on the very steepest of learning curves, burdened by a seemingly impossible workload (though clearly not quite bad enough to prevent the writing of this book) and overseen by ghastly consultants whose attitudes appear to be at least 100 years out of date. As the year rolls on, Max encounters situations of real poignancy, hilarity and horror.
The diary-style entries make this book very easy to read but in places the writing was a little sloppy and there were some grammatical errors which bugged me so I deducted a star (sorry to be such a pedant).
So true..., 06 Sep 2008
I am only 3/4's of the way through this book and I think it is brilliant. As many have previously said, it is so very true...and not just for junior doctors but for anyone starting out in the medical profession. I have just qualified as a midwife and got my first job in a large consultant led unit. Max Pemberton has managed to express all the same feelings and experiences that I am currently having as a newly qualified midwife..."Will I ever get a break?", "Have I prescribed the right drug to the right person?" and ultimately "When will I kill my first patient?". All joking aside this book is nothing but fantastic and Max Pemberton has managed to add humour to the dark and depressing days that are the first year as a newly qualified in the wonder that is the NHS.
Just what the doctor ordered, 19 Aug 2008
This book I first heard about on Radio 4 when it was serialised and had me laughing and teary eyed. I got it and it didn't disappoint. It was funny, addictive, genuine and a real pleasure to read. It highlights the ups and downs and everything in between about being a doctor in the NHS.
Aren`t we lucky?, 01 Nov 2008
This book really made me think how materialistic we are these days. I was born in the 60s - was it really just ten or so years before, that all this was happening? My own mum could have been on those pages, having my older sister. We are very fortunate, in the UK at least,to have the NHS, warts and all. Sadly there are places in the world where women still suffer, just for being female. Thank the lucky stars for those sisters of mercy and the angels, the nurses, who joined them to see the babies into the world. This book has touched me in a way no other has. I feel humbled and decidedly less inclined to grumble over trivialities. Superb book. Reads like a novel too. More from the Worth(y) one!!!!
East end life and people in the 1950s , 24 Sep 2008
A truly enjoyable and inspiring read. Most reviewers have highlighted the ability of the writer to draw the reader in and provoke a mixture of emotions. It's an excellent social history too. I've now ordered Father Joe Williamson's autobiography and will be reading the next two instalments from Jennifer in the future. Read it and weep (and laugh)
Jennifer Worth shares her experiences of catching babies and caring for mothers in the 1950's, 08 Sep 2008
The writing by Ms Worth flows, it's funny at times and it's sad at times (which is all good!). The only complaint I have is that Ms Worth told the stories of certain characters too much, and did not focus on the midwifery side of things enough. This is not a bad book, if you expect a lovely story of the people and places surrounding Ms Worth during her time as a midwife, staying with some Nuns in London, and a few births scattered here and there.
However, I was not satisfied with the book as I would have liked to read more about Ms Worth's job and less about other people. I loved to hear about who she was caring for and their families, but I was not interested in the Nuns, or the random people who were not having babies.
Ms Worth describes births in detail, how different they were in the 1950's compared to the 21st Century. I loved that the women birthed at home, I loved that they would warm water in preparation for the new arrival, I loved that they would warm the towels by the fire and the midwife would cycle to the family's home on a bicycle. The story of Conchita was really heart-warming.
I am happy that I have read the book, and my next mission is to find a book about a midwife that is set in more modern settings.
This era should never be forgotten, 08 Sep 2008
This book covers relatively recent history and shows how far maternity care has come. The families h | | |