Succinct but detailed and pocket sized and handy to have!, 01 May 2008
5 straight forward chapters detailing key elements of ward working. Some chapters may seem like `common sense' i.e `know who your patients are' but a good reminder of the basics.

This book is very black and white, blunt at times yet informative with no room for misunderstandings.

Whilst some information you would expect the qualified Nurse to know, (integrated care pathways and interviewing the patient), but for newly qualifieds or those lacking experience / confidence there is lots of information on the `basics' - observations, monitoring etc with abbreviations explaining what they mean and why they are used.

Excellent sections detail all major anatomical and physiological systems in the body detailing features, common disorders, treatments and appropriate nursing care. A well documented section on pharmacology covers topics such as the misuse of drugs act, injection sites for S/C's and I/M's and for the totally inexperienced details of drug classification and warning signs of possible poisoning.

An ideal guide for all Nurses, and the size means it can be carried around with ease, a good handbag size to pull out and read on breaks.


Survival guide for any nurse!!!!!!!, 30 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic book for not only nurses but also student nurses. It covers everything that you need to know from, procedures such as ECG's and Urine Tests, to a section decidated to Pharmacology. As well as having in depth details on numerous procedures and drugs the book also contains a section on systems such as the renal and nervous systems for example. These are then broken into sections containing illnesses/problems and why they occur, and the nursing care required. The book also covers a large amount of A and P, and would be excellent for the Specfic Health Needs and Individual Health Needs module due to the amount of information it contains. The book it self is also small which I find great as you can pop it in your bag and use it to refer whist on placement. I know several other student nurses who have brought this book and also rave about it and would strongly reccomend it.

invaluable!!!, 26 Jul 2007
As a student nurse and in the first two years post qualifying i found this book was great to keep nearby as a quick reference guide to most things you might come accross. As a student it was rarely out of my pocket or bag...Highly recommended for any student nurse or newly qualified!!!

Invaluable, 29 Sep 2006
Found this book great. It's small so easy to take to placement and has tons of information from Asthma to Parenteral nutrition. It's like a more informative mini dictionary. I found it money well spent.

Fantastic Book!, 27 May 2006
I am a student nurse and I found this book a brilliant guide to life on the wards. You will not regret buying this book its small enough for your bag but a wealth of information

Succinct but detailed and pocket sized and handy to have!, 01 May 2008
5 straight forward chapters detailing key elements of ward working. Some chapters may seem like `common sense' i.e `know who your patients are' but a good reminder of the basics.

This book is very black and white, blunt at times yet informative with no room for misunderstandings.

Whilst some information you would expect the qualified Nurse to know, (integrated care pathways and interviewing the patient), but for newly qualifieds or those lacking experience / confidence there is lots of information on the `basics' - observations, monitoring etc with abbreviations explaining what they mean and why they are used.

Excellent sections detail all major anatomical and physiological systems in the body detailing features, common disorders, treatments and appropriate nursing care. A well documented section on pharmacology covers topics such as the misuse of drugs act, injection sites for S/C's and I/M's and for the totally inexperienced details of drug classification and warning signs of possible poisoning.

An ideal guide for all Nurses, and the size means it can be carried around with ease, a good handbag size to pull out and read on breaks.


Survival guide for any nurse!!!!!!!, 30 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic book for not only nurses but also student nurses. It covers everything that you need to know from, procedures such as ECG's and Urine Tests, to a section decidated to Pharmacology. As well as having in depth details on numerous procedures and drugs the book also contains a section on systems such as the renal and nervous systems for example. These are then broken into sections containing illnesses/problems and why they occur, and the nursing care required. The book also covers a large amount of A and P, and would be excellent for the Specfic Health Needs and Individual Health Needs module due to the amount of information it contains. The book it self is also small which I find great as you can pop it in your bag and use it to refer whist on placement. I know several other student nurses who have brought this book and also rave about it and would strongly reccomend it.

invaluable!!!, 26 Jul 2007
As a student nurse and in the first two years post qualifying i found this book was great to keep nearby as a quick reference guide to most things you might come accross. As a student it was rarely out of my pocket or bag...Highly recommended for any student nurse or newly qualified!!!

Invaluable, 29 Sep 2006
Found this book great. It's small so easy to take to placement and has tons of information from Asthma to Parenteral nutrition. It's like a more informative mini dictionary. I found it money well spent.

Fantastic Book!, 27 May 2006
I am a student nurse and I found this book a brilliant guide to life on the wards. You will not regret buying this book its small enough for your bag but a wealth of information

An essential book for all Physiotherapy students, 22 Jan 2000
This is a very interesting and readable title which I feel has to be a must for physiotherapy students. Each chapter holds a wealth of information which is clearly written, is easy to understand and is relevant to undergraduate physiotherapy studies.

Specific chapters within the book stand out which are especially interesting and well worth a read. Peripheral nerve Lesions by R Birch et al gives a clear understanding of manangement for those first encountering peripheral nerve lesions.

Specific treatment techniques contributed by J Jackson provides and concise and excellent overview of the techniques and skills available to physiotherapists with neurology. This chapter provides the core information needed by students and is supported by numerous, useful references to explore.

Also of interest was spinal cord Injury by Rowley et al which gives a good outline of the holistic management of spinal cord injuries including the background pathology and appropriate physiotherapeutic rehabilitation.

Out of the 5 titles in the series, I have found Neurological physiotherapy the most useful, but as a whole each book in the series is great value for money .

Succinct but detailed and pocket sized and handy to have!, 01 May 2008
5 straight forward chapters detailing key elements of ward working. Some chapters may seem like `common sense' i.e `know who your patients are' but a good reminder of the basics.

This book is very black and white, blunt at times yet informative with no room for misunderstandings.

Whilst some information you would expect the qualified Nurse to know, (integrated care pathways and interviewing the patient), but for newly qualifieds or those lacking experience / confidence there is lots of information on the `basics' - observations, monitoring etc with abbreviations explaining what they mean and why they are used.

Excellent sections detail all major anatomical and physiological systems in the body detailing features, common disorders, treatments and appropriate nursing care. A well documented section on pharmacology covers topics such as the misuse of drugs act, injection sites for S/C's and I/M's and for the totally inexperienced details of drug classification and warning signs of possible poisoning.

An ideal guide for all Nurses, and the size means it can be carried around with ease, a good handbag size to pull out and read on breaks.


Survival guide for any nurse!!!!!!!, 30 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic book for not only nurses but also student nurses. It covers everything that you need to know from, procedures such as ECG's and Urine Tests, to a section decidated to Pharmacology. As well as having in depth details on numerous procedures and drugs the book also contains a section on systems such as the renal and nervous systems for example. These are then broken into sections containing illnesses/problems and why they occur, and the nursing care required. The book also covers a large amount of A and P, and would be excellent for the Specfic Health Needs and Individual Health Needs module due to the amount of information it contains. The book it self is also small which I find great as you can pop it in your bag and use it to refer whist on placement. I know several other student nurses who have brought this book and also rave about it and would strongly reccomend it.

invaluable!!!, 26 Jul 2007
As a student nurse and in the first two years post qualifying i found this book was great to keep nearby as a quick reference guide to most things you might come accross. As a student it was rarely out of my pocket or bag...Highly recommended for any student nurse or newly qualified!!!

Invaluable, 29 Sep 2006
Found this book great. It's small so easy to take to placement and has tons of information from Asthma to Parenteral nutrition. It's like a more informative mini dictionary. I found it money well spent.

Fantastic Book!, 27 May 2006
I am a student nurse and I found this book a brilliant guide to life on the wards. You will not regret buying this book its small enough for your bag but a wealth of information

An essential book for all Physiotherapy students, 22 Jan 2000
This is a very interesting and readable title which I feel has to be a must for physiotherapy students. Each chapter holds a wealth of information which is clearly written, is easy to understand and is relevant to undergraduate physiotherapy studies.

Specific chapters within the book stand out which are especially interesting and well worth a read. Peripheral nerve Lesions by R Birch et al gives a clear understanding of manangement for those first encountering peripheral nerve lesions.

Specific treatment techniques contributed by J Jackson provides and concise and excellent overview of the techniques and skills available to physiotherapists with neurology. This chapter provides the core information needed by students and is supported by numerous, useful references to explore.

Also of interest was spinal cord Injury by Rowley et al which gives a good outline of the holistic management of spinal cord injuries including the background pathology and appropriate physiotherapeutic rehabilitation.

Out of the 5 titles in the series, I have found Neurological physiotherapy the most useful, but as a whole each book in the series is great value for money .

Overall view? Add this book to your collection!, 11 Mar 2002
This book comes to the reader with excellent credentials.

All chapters have been drawn from learning materials prepared for the Management Education Scheme by Open Learning (MESOL) and it has been selected as the prescribed text for students from the health and social care sector who are undertaking the Professional Certificate in Management of the OU Business School.

With 18 chapters ranging in topics from Your Job As A Manager through to Service Planning, Accountability & Risk via such interesting sections as Working With Standards and Mapping The Service Environment, this book attempts to cover all the aspects of a manager's job. However, despite excellent material, one is left with feeling that most of the chapters are simply an introduction to the subject, rather than an in-depth analysis of the topic.

However, the material that is covered is considered from the perspective of health and social care which is a delight for regular readers of management books! Authors of the original material included Social Care managers, GP practice managers, NHS training managers and university lecturers - so there can be no accusations that they do not understand our environment. Indeed, the numerous case studies display an awareness of this field that is normally not seen in standard texts.

So, overall, a huge recommendation to add this book to your collection. Even better, add it to your Learning Resource Centre - just don't think that it is the final word!

Succinct but detailed and pocket sized and handy to have!, 01 May 2008
5 straight forward chapters detailing key elements of ward working. Some chapters may seem like `common sense' i.e `know who your patients are' but a good reminder of the basics.

This book is very black and white, blunt at times yet informative with no room for misunderstandings.

Whilst some information you would expect the qualified Nurse to know, (integrated care pathways and interviewing the patient), but for newly qualifieds or those lacking experience / confidence there is lots of information on the `basics' - observations, monitoring etc with abbreviations explaining what they mean and why they are used.

Excellent sections detail all major anatomical and physiological systems in the body detailing features, common disorders, treatments and appropriate nursing care. A well documented section on pharmacology covers topics such as the misuse of drugs act, injection sites for S/C's and I/M's and for the totally inexperienced details of drug classification and warning signs of possible poisoning.

An ideal guide for all Nurses, and the size means it can be carried around with ease, a good handbag size to pull out and read on breaks.


Survival guide for any nurse!!!!!!!, 30 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic book for not only nurses but also student nurses. It covers everything that you need to know from, procedures such as ECG's and Urine Tests, to a section decidated to Pharmacology. As well as having in depth details on numerous procedures and drugs the book also contains a section on systems such as the renal and nervous systems for example. These are then broken into sections containing illnesses/problems and why they occur, and the nursing care required. The book also covers a large amount of A and P, and would be excellent for the Specfic Health Needs and Individual Health Needs module due to the amount of information it contains. The book it self is also small which I find great as you can pop it in your bag and use it to refer whist on placement. I know several other student nurses who have brought this book and also rave about it and would strongly reccomend it.

invaluable!!!, 26 Jul 2007
As a student nurse and in the first two years post qualifying i found this book was great to keep nearby as a quick reference guide to most things you might come accross. As a student it was rarely out of my pocket or bag...Highly recommended for any student nurse or newly qualified!!!

Invaluable, 29 Sep 2006
Found this book great. It's small so easy to take to placement and has tons of information from Asthma to Parenteral nutrition. It's like a more informative mini dictionary. I found it money well spent.

Fantastic Book!, 27 May 2006
I am a student nurse and I found this book a brilliant guide to life on the wards. You will not regret buying this book its small enough for your bag but a wealth of information

An essential book for all Physiotherapy students, 22 Jan 2000
This is a very interesting and readable title which I feel has to be a must for physiotherapy students. Each chapter holds a wealth of information which is clearly written, is easy to understand and is relevant to undergraduate physiotherapy studies.

Specific chapters within the book stand out which are especially interesting and well worth a read. Peripheral nerve Lesions by R Birch et al gives a clear understanding of manangement for those first encountering peripheral nerve lesions.

Specific treatment techniques contributed by J Jackson provides and concise and excellent overview of the techniques and skills available to physiotherapists with neurology. This chapter provides the core information needed by students and is supported by numerous, useful references to explore.

Also of interest was spinal cord Injury by Rowley et al which gives a good outline of the holistic management of spinal cord injuries including the background pathology and appropriate physiotherapeutic rehabilitation.

Out of the 5 titles in the series, I have found Neurological physiotherapy the most useful, but as a whole each book in the series is great value for money .

Overall view? Add this book to your collection!, 11 Mar 2002
This book comes to the reader with excellent credentials.

All chapters have been drawn from learning materials prepared for the Management Education Scheme by Open Learning (MESOL) and it has been selected as the prescribed text for students from the health and social care sector who are undertaking the Professional Certificate in Management of the OU Business School.

With 18 chapters ranging in topics from Your Job As A Manager through to Service Planning, Accountability & Risk via such interesting sections as Working With Standards and Mapping The Service Environment, this book attempts to cover all the aspects of a manager's job. However, despite excellent material, one is left with feeling that most of the chapters are simply an introduction to the subject, rather than an in-depth analysis of the topic.

However, the material that is covered is considered from the perspective of health and social care which is a delight for regular readers of management books! Authors of the original material included Social Care managers, GP practice managers, NHS training managers and university lecturers - so there can be no accusations that they do not understand our environment. Indeed, the numerous case studies display an awareness of this field that is normally not seen in standard texts.

So, overall, a huge recommendation to add this book to your collection. Even better, add it to your Learning Resource Centre - just don't think that it is the final word!

This a Reception Management book and much more!, 02 Apr 2001
The title of this book does not do it justice or make it available to the wider audience to which it applies. The information contained is useful for Managers and reception staff as it contains everything you need to know about all aspects of managing the administration/reception side of a General Practice, and much more. It explains clearly many topics and gives the user a very comprehensive background to all job related tasks.

A useful guide for any member of the General Practice Team.

Succinct but detailed and pocket sized and handy to have!, 01 May 2008
5 straight forward chapters detailing key elements of ward working. Some chapters may seem like `common sense' i.e `know who your patients are' but a good reminder of the basics.

This book is very black and white, blunt at times yet informative with no room for misunderstandings.

Whilst some information you would expect the qualified Nurse to know, (integrated care pathways and interviewing the patient), but for newly qualifieds or those lacking experience / confidence there is lots of information on the `basics' - observations, monitoring etc with abbreviations explaining what they mean and why they are used.

Excellent sections detail all major anatomical and physiological systems in the body detailing features, common disorders, treatments and appropriate nursing care. A well documented section on pharmacology covers topics such as the misuse of drugs act, injection sites for S/C's and I/M's and for the totally inexperienced details of drug classification and warning signs of possible poisoning.

An ideal guide for all Nurses, and the size means it can be carried around with ease, a good handbag size to pull out and read on breaks.


Survival guide for any nurse!!!!!!!, 30 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic book for not only nurses but also student nurses. It covers everything that you need to know from, procedures such as ECG's and Urine Tests, to a section decidated to Pharmacology. As well as having in depth details on numerous procedures and drugs the book also contains a section on systems such as the renal and nervous systems for example. These are then broken into sections containing illnesses/problems and why they occur, and the nursing care required. The book also covers a large amount of A and P, and would be excellent for the Specfic Health Needs and Individual Health Needs module due to the amount of information it contains. The book it self is also small which I find great as you can pop it in your bag and use it to refer whist on placement. I know several other student nurses who have brought this book and also rave about it and would strongly reccomend it.

invaluable!!!, 26 Jul 2007
As a student nurse and in the first two years post qualifying i found this book was great to keep nearby as a quick reference guide to most things you might come accross. As a student it was rarely out of my pocket or bag...Highly recommended for any student nurse or newly qualified!!!

Invaluable, 29 Sep 2006
Found this book great. It's small so easy to take to placement and has tons of information from Asthma to Parenteral nutrition. It's like a more informative mini dictionary. I found it money well spent.

Fantastic Book!, 27 May 2006
I am a student nurse and I found this book a brilliant guide to life on the wards. You will not regret buying this book its small enough for your bag but a wealth of information

An essential book for all Physiotherapy students, 22 Jan 2000
This is a very interesting and readable title which I feel has to be a must for physiotherapy students. Each chapter holds a wealth of information which is clearly written, is easy to understand and is relevant to undergraduate physiotherapy studies.

Specific chapters within the book stand out which are especially interesting and well worth a read. Peripheral nerve Lesions by R Birch et al gives a clear understanding of manangement for those first encountering peripheral nerve lesions.

Specific treatment techniques contributed by J Jackson provides and concise and excellent overview of the techniques and skills available to physiotherapists with neurology. This chapter provides the core information needed by students and is supported by numerous, useful references to explore.

Also of interest was spinal cord Injury by Rowley et al which gives a good outline of the holistic management of spinal cord injuries including the background pathology and appropriate physiotherapeutic rehabilitation.

Out of the 5 titles in the series, I have found Neurological physiotherapy the most useful, but as a whole each book in the series is great value for money .

Overall view? Add this book to your collection!, 11 Mar 2002
This book comes to the reader with excellent credentials.

All chapters have been drawn from learning materials prepared for the Management Education Scheme by Open Learning (MESOL) and it has been selected as the prescribed text for students from the health and social care sector who are undertaking the Professional Certificate in Management of the OU Business School.

With 18 chapters ranging in topics from Your Job As A Manager through to Service Planning, Accountability & Risk via such interesting sections as Working With Standards and Mapping The Service Environment, this book attempts to cover all the aspects of a manager's job. However, despite excellent material, one is left with feeling that most of the chapters are simply an introduction to the subject, rather than an in-depth analysis of the topic.

However, the material that is covered is considered from the perspective of health and social care which is a delight for regular readers of management books! Authors of the original material included Social Care managers, GP practice managers, NHS training managers and university lecturers - so there can be no accusations that they do not understand our environment. Indeed, the numerous case studies display an awareness of this field that is normally not seen in standard texts.

So, overall, a huge recommendation to add this book to your collection. Even better, add it to your Learning Resource Centre - just don't think that it is the final word!

This a Reception Management book and much more!, 02 Apr 2001
The title of this book does not do it justice or make it available to the wider audience to which it applies. The information contained is useful for Managers and reception staff as it contains everything you need to know about all aspects of managing the administration/reception side of a General Practice, and much more. It explains clearly many topics and gives the user a very comprehensive background to all job related tasks.

A useful guide for any member of the General Practice Team.

Excellent book both historically and looking to the future, 27 Mar 2008
This book is very interesting for anyone involved in NHS IT or in national scale computer projects.
It is apposite as comtemporary to the most expensive potential waste of public money this century.
This book is written by a man with a life time experience of NHS IT - almost from its beginnings, and his wealth of experience fills every page.
The way he sets out the stall of NHS IT history is particularly interesting - relating it to the history of the carriage wheel and the blinkered vision of those who have simply inherited the system and never sought to overhaul it. He also deals with the out of the box thinking that could transform NHS IT service delivery and its possible interaction with patients. However one cannot help but agree with his final analysis and feel dissatified with the current structure of the NHS IT project.

If you ever had doubts about Computerising the NHS, 14 Jul 2006
Excellent easy to read book. Told me all I needed to know about computerising the NHS and more. If you ever had any doubts about why it badly needs doing, read Chapter 2. I am a District Nurse and currently part of a pilot site for the Programme, I was badly in need of some information as to why we were going through hell. Now I know.
Also a great resource for websites and organisations, such as Governments, Media, Universities, you name it. Well done Sean Brennan.

Rod's review of the NHS IT project, 16 Jun 2005
This very readable book provides an overview of NHS IT strategies over the last 30 years, and places these within the wider political and social changes which have taken place, from the knowledgeable viewpoint of someone who has played s significant role in their development.

A strong focus on policy and strategy development means there is less detail of applications at the sharp end than some readers might want, but attempts are made throughout the book to illustrate issues with patient and staff vignettes.

The book is well organised with a detailed contents list, some useful appendices and a comprehensive index. Page layout is clear although some of the diagrams might have been better in colour.

The book brings the topic up to date with detail of the National Programme for Health (NPfIT), but, as with any book in this area, in the couple of months since it was printed changes to terminology e.g. "NHS Connecting for Health" and the change of a major software supplier to the Southern Cluster of the NPfIT.

The history lesson provided shows how developments have built upon previous work, but also how some of the lessons of the past have not been learnt, and tries to draw some lessons and indulge in a little crystal ball gazing to answer the question "Will NPfIT succeed?"

A key point is brought out in the final chapters of the book which suggests that many of the decisions about software have now been made but success will depend on its adoption by all NHS staff.

Succinct but detailed and pocket sized and handy to have!, 01 May 2008
5 straight forward chapters detailing key elements of ward working. Some chapters may seem like `common sense' i.e `know who your patients are' but a good reminder of the basics.

This book is very black and white, blunt at times yet informative with no room for misunderstandings.

Whilst some information you would expect the qualified Nurse to know, (integrated care pathways and interviewing the patient), but for newly qualifieds or those lacking experience / confidence there is lots of information on the `basics' - observations, monitoring etc with abbreviations explaining what they mean and why they are used.

Excellent sections detail all major anatomical and physiological systems in the body detailing features, common disorders, treatments and appropriate nursing care. A well documented section on pharmacology covers topics such as the misuse of drugs act, injection sites for S/C's and I/M's and for the totally inexperienced details of drug classification and warning signs of possible poisoning.

An ideal guide for all Nurses, and the size means it can be carried around with ease, a good handbag size to pull out and read on breaks.


Survival guide for any nurse!!!!!!!, 30 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic book for not only nurses but also student nurses. It covers everything that you need to know from, procedures such as ECG's and Urine Tests, to a section decidated to Pharmacology. As well as having in depth details on numerous procedures and drugs the book also contains a section on systems such as the renal and nervous systems for example. These are then broken into sections containing illnesses/problems and why they occur, and the nursing care required. The book also covers a large amount of A and P, and would be excellent for the Specfic Health Needs and Individual Health Needs module due to the amount of information it contains. The book it self is also small which I find great as you can pop it in your bag and use it to refer whist on placement. I know several other student nurses who have brought this book and also rave about it and would strongly reccomend it.

invaluable!!!, 26 Jul 2007
As a student nurse and in the first two years post qualifying i found this book was great to keep nearby as a quick reference guide to most things you might come accross. As a student it was rarely out of my pocket or bag...Highly recommended for any student nurse or newly qualified!!!

Invaluable, 29 Sep 2006
Found this book great. It's small so easy to take to placement and has tons of information from Asthma to Parenteral nutrition. It's like a more informative mini dictionary. I found it money well spent.

Fantastic Book!, 27 May 2006
I am a student nurse and I found this book a brilliant guide to life on the wards. You will not regret buying this book its small enough for your bag but a wealth of information

An essential book for all Physiotherapy students, 22 Jan 2000
This is a very interesting and readable title which I feel has to be a must for physiotherapy students. Each chapter holds a wealth of information which is clearly written, is easy to understand and is relevant to undergraduate physiotherapy studies.

Specific chapters within the book stand out which are especially interesting and well worth a read. Peripheral nerve Lesions by R Birch et al gives a clear understanding of manangement for those first encountering peripheral nerve lesions.

Specific treatment techniques contributed by J Jackson provides and concise and excellent overview of the techniques and skills available to physiotherapists with neurology. This chapter provides the core information needed by students and is supported by numerous, useful references to explore.

Also of interest was spinal cord Injury by Rowley et al which gives a good outline of the holistic management of spinal cord injuries including the background pathology and appropriate physiotherapeutic rehabilitation.

Out of the 5 titles in the series, I have found Neurological physiotherapy the most useful, but as a whole each book in the series is great value for money .

Overall view? Add this book to your collection!, 11 Mar 2002
This book comes to the reader with excellent credentials.

All chapters have been drawn from learning materials prepared for the Management Education Scheme by Open Learning (MESOL) and it has been selected as the prescribed text for students from the health and social care sector who are undertaking the Professional Certificate in Management of the OU Business School.

With 18 chapters ranging in topics from Your Job As A Manager through to Service Planning, Accountability & Risk via such interesting sections as Working With Standards and Mapping The Service Environment, this book attempts to cover all the aspects of a manager's job. However, despite excellent material, one is left with feeling that most of the chapters are simply an introduction to the subject, rather than an in-depth analysis of the topic.

However, the material that is covered is considered from the perspective of health and social care which is a delight for regular readers of management books! Authors of the original material included Social Care managers, GP practice managers, NHS training managers and university lecturers - so there can be no accusations that they do not understand our environment. Indeed, the numerous case studies display an awareness of this field that is normally not seen in standard texts.

So, overall, a huge recommendation to add this book to your collection. Even better, add it to your Learning Resource Centre - just don't think that it is the final word!

This a Reception Management book and much more!, 02 Apr 2001
The title of this book does not do it justice or make it available to the wider audience to which it applies. The information contained is useful for Managers and reception staff as it contains everything you need to know about all aspects of managing the administration/reception side of a General Practice, and much more. It explains clearly many topics and gives the user a very comprehensive background to all job related tasks.

A useful guide for any member of the General Practice Team.

Excellent book both historically and looking to the future, 27 Mar 2008
This book is very interesting for anyone involved in NHS IT or in national scale computer projects.
It is apposite as comtemporary to the most expensive potential waste of public money this century.
This book is written by a man with a life time experience of NHS IT - almost from its beginnings, and his wealth of experience fills every page.
The way he sets out the stall of NHS IT history is particularly interesting - relating it to the history of the carriage wheel and the blinkered vision of those who have simply inherited the system and never sought to overhaul it. He also deals with the out of the box thinking that could transform NHS IT service delivery and its possible interaction with patients. However one cannot help but agree with his final analysis and feel dissatified with the current structure of the NHS IT project.

If you ever had doubts about Computerising the NHS, 14 Jul 2006
Excellent easy to read book. Told me all I needed to know about computerising the NHS and more. If you ever had any doubts about why it badly needs doing, read Chapter 2. I am a District Nurse and currently part of a pilot site for the Programme, I was badly in need of some information as to why we were going through hell. Now I know.
Also a great resource for websites and organisations, such as Governments, Media, Universities, you name it. Well done Sean Brennan.

Rod's review of the NHS IT project, 16 Jun 2005
This very readable book provides an overview of NHS IT strategies over the last 30 years, and places these within the wider political and social changes which have taken place, from the knowledgeable viewpoint of someone who has played s significant role in their development.

A strong focus on policy and strategy development means there is less detail of applications at the sharp end than some readers might want, but attempts are made throughout the book to illustrate issues with patient and staff vignettes.

The book is well organised with a detailed contents list, some useful appendices and a comprehensive index. Page layout is clear although some of the diagrams might have been better in colour.

The book brings the topic up to date with detail of the National Programme for Health (NPfIT), but, as with any book in this area, in the couple of months since it was printed changes to terminology e.g. "NHS Connecting for Health" and the change of a major software supplier to the Southern Cluster of the NPfIT.

The history lesson provided shows how developments have built upon previous work, but also how some of the lessons of the past have not been learnt, and tries to draw some lessons and indulge in a little crystal ball gazing to answer the question "Will NPfIT succeed?"

A key point is brought out in the final chapters of the book which suggests that many of the decisions about software have now been made but success will depend on its adoption by all NHS staff.

inspirational, 26 Sep 2008
Having watched a TV documentary about the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia several years ago, I was greatly interested to read the full story of the Doctors Hamlin. What a remarkable couple - true humanitarians in every sense. What they have achieved is truly astonishing.
These poor young Ethiopian girls have endured pain, isolation and degredation through ignorance and poor health care, some as young as 13 going through many days of labour to deliver a dead baby, and then suffering terrible internal injuries often resulting in fistula, leaving them incontinent and destined to a life of shame. Doctors Reg and Catherine Hamlin from Australia pioneered reconstructive surgery and have a 93% success rate of curing these women, literally giving them their lives back. They train health care workers, midwives, doctors and have opened outreach clinics and a safe permanent home for the few they cannot cure. Theirs is a heart-warming story - I cried when I read it. There are some truly selfless people in the world, who genuinely care for others. I urge you to read this book. It will make you appreciate just how lucky we are to be born into a society where women are educated and have access to proper health care.

Incredible, 09 Apr 2008
I read this book as a first year medical student and it has inspired me throughout my studies... I'm currently planning my medical elective to Ethiopia due to this book!
Read it, I am certain you will find it incredible.

Inspirational, 22 Feb 2006
This book chronicles the work of the Hamlins, doctors from the UK who set up a women's hospital in Ethiopia. The book really highlights just how horrendous life can be for women in areas of the world where there is little health infrastructure, but unlike alot of investigative journalism for example, which deals with similar issues, there is light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the Hamlin's ongoing activities. A great example of what commitment, dedication, faith and love can do in the face of despair.

In addition there are some really interesting bits of medical history thrown in as well. Highly recommended.

You might expect the biography of a building to be a dusty, hollow affair, especially one no longer standing, but Philip Hoare's Spike Island demolishes that pre-conception with poetic relish. The building is Netley's Royal Victoria Military Hospital, built in the Spike Island region of Southampton and completed in 1863. Florence Nightingale railed vociferously against its design--correctly, it was to prove. It was huge, using over a million red bricks and home to a thousand patients; postmen used to ride their bikes along the quarter-mile corridors that American GIs later drove their jeeps down. As the pink of the Empire it was built to serve faded from the map, Hoare relates, with veritable scholarship and dark exuberance, the horror tales that reverberated around its walls, from early psychiatric experimentation to the tragedy of World War I shell-shock victims. Wilfred Owen was a patient at Netley after the Somme, while doctors included Dr WH Rivers, who featured in Pat Barker's Regeneration Trilogy, and a young RD Laing, who developed his distaste for brutal psychiatric method working there. Even Dr Watson revealed, at the start of A Study in Scarlet, that he had attended a Netley course for army surgeons.

Hoare invests his tale with a gothic splendour, from the introductory history of the nearby Cistercian abbey that subsequently inspired operas, prints and tales, to his own pre-occupations, as a youth, with Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast, David Bowie and then punk. At times he wears a brooding decadence on his sleeve like chevrons, as befits the author of Noel Coward and Wilde's Last Stand, but by bolstering his narrative with personal ballast, revealing intimate glimpses of growing up in a backwater, and the deaths of his brother and father, he also provides an evocation of the suburbs comparable to Edward Platt's Leadville. To a rewarding degree a reconciliation of Hoare with his origins and childhood environs, Spike Island speaks of the nature of fear and creeping memory, and lingers in the mind as hauntingly as the ghostly, shadowy presences it so movingly traces.--David Vincent

Succinct but detailed and pocket sized and handy to have!, 01 May 2008
5 straight forward chapters detailing key elements of ward working. Some chapters may seem like `common sense' i.e `know who your patients are' but a good reminder of the basics.

This book is very black and white, blunt at times yet informative with no room for misunderstandings.

Whilst some information you would expect the qualified Nurse to know, (integrated care pathways and interviewing the patient), but for newly qualifieds or those lacking experience / confidence there is lots of information on the `basics' - observations, monitoring etc with abbreviations explaining what they mean and why they are used.

Excellent sections detail all major anatomical and physiological systems in the body detailing features, common disorders, treatments and appropriate nursing care. A well documented section on pharmacology covers topics such as the misuse of drugs act, injection sites for S/C's and I/M's and for the totally inexperienced details of drug classification and warning signs of possible poisoning.

An ideal guide for all Nurses, and the size means it can be carried around with ease, a good handbag size to pull out and read on breaks.


Survival guide for any nurse!!!!!!!, 30 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic book for not only nurses but also student nurses. It covers everything that you need to know from, procedures such as ECG's and Urine Tests, to a section decidated to Pharmacology. As well as having in depth details on numerous procedures and drugs the book also contains a section on systems such as the renal and nervous systems for example. These are then broken into sections containing illnesses/problems and why they occur, and the nursing care required. The book also covers a large amount of A and P, and would be excellent for the Specfic Health Needs and Individual Health Needs module due to the amount of information it contains. The book it self is also small which I find great as you can pop it in your bag and use it to refer whist on placement. I know several other student nurses who have brought this book and also rave about it and would strongly reccomend it.

invaluable!!!, 26 Jul 2007
As a student nurse and in the first two years post qualifying i found this book was great to keep nearby as a quick reference guide to most things you might come accross. As a student it was rarely out of my pocket or bag...Highly recommended for any student nurse or newly qualified!!!

Invaluable, 29 Sep 2006
Found this book great. It's small so easy to take to placement and has tons of information from Asthma to Parenteral nutrition. It's like a more informative mini dictionary. I found it money well spent.

Fantastic Book!, 27 May 2006
I am a student nurse and I found this book a brilliant guide to life on the wards. You will not regret buying this book its small enough for your bag but a wealth of information

An essential book for all Physiotherapy students, 22 Jan 2000
This is a very interesting and readable title which I feel has to be a must for physiotherapy students. Each chapter holds a wealth of information which is clearly written, is easy to understand and is relevant to undergraduate physiotherapy studies.

Specific chapters within the book stand out which are especially interesting and well worth a read. Peripheral nerve Lesions by R Birch et al gives a clear understanding of manangement for those first encountering peripheral nerve lesions.

Specific treatment techniques contributed by J Jackson provides and concise and excellent overview of the techniques and skills available to physiotherapists with neurology. This chapter provides the core information needed by students and is supported by numerous, useful references to explore.

Also of interest was spinal cord Injury by Rowley et al which gives a good outline of the holistic management of spinal cord injuries including the background pathology and appropriate physiotherapeutic rehabilitation.

Out of the 5 titles in the series, I have found Neurological physiotherapy the most useful, but as a whole each book in the series is great value for money .

Overall view? Add this book to your collection!, 11 Mar 2002
This book comes to the reader with excellent credentials.

All chapters have been drawn from learning materials prepared for the Management Education Scheme by Open Learning (MESOL) and it has been selected as the prescribed text for students from the health and social care sector who are undertaking the Professional Certificate in Management of the OU Business School.

With 18 chapters ranging in topics from Your Job As A Manager through to Service Planning, Accountability & Risk via such interesting sections as Working With Standards and Mapping The Service Environment, this book attempts to cover all the aspects of a manager's job. However, despite excellent material, one is left with feeling that most of the chapters are simply an introduction to the subject, rather than an in-depth analysis of the topic.

However, the material that is covered is considered from the perspective of health and social care which is a delight for regular readers of management books! Authors of the original material included Social Care managers, GP practice managers, NHS training managers and university lecturers - so there can be no accusations that they do not understand our environment. Indeed, the numerous case studies display an awareness of this field that is normally not seen in standard texts.

So, overall, a huge recommendation to add this book to your collection. Even better, add it to your Learning Resource Centre - just don't think that it is the final word!

This a Reception Management book and much more!, 02 Apr 2001
The title of this book does not do it justice or make it available to the wider audience to which it applies. The information contained is useful for Managers and reception staff as it contains everything you need to know about all aspects of managing the administration/reception side of a General Practice, and much more. It explains clearly many topics and gives the user a very comprehensive background to all job related tasks.

A useful guide for any member of the General Practice Team.

Excellent book both historically and looking to the future, 27 Mar 2008
This book is very interesting for anyone involved in NHS IT or in national scale computer projects.
It is apposite as comtemporary to the most expensive potential waste of public money this century.
This book is written by a man with a life time experience of NHS IT - almost from its beginnings, and his wealth of experience fills every page.
The way he sets out the stall of NHS IT history is particularly interesting - relating it to the history of the carriage wheel and the blinkered vision of those who have simply inherited the system and never sought to overhaul it. He also deals with the out of the box thinking that could transform NHS IT service delivery and its possible interaction with patients. However one cannot help but agree with his final analysis and feel dissatified with the current structure of the NHS IT project.

If you ever had doubts about Computerising the NHS, 14 Jul 2006
Excellent easy to read book. Told me all I needed to know about computerising the NHS and more. If you ever had any doubts about why it badly needs doing, read Chapter 2. I am a District Nurse and currently part of a pilot site for the Programme, I was badly in need of some information as to why we were going through hell. Now I know.
Also a great resource for websites and organisations, such as Governments, Media, Universities, you name it. Well done Sean Brennan.

Rod's review of the NHS IT project, 16 Jun 2005
This very readable book provides an overview of NHS IT strategies over the last 30 years, and places these within the wider political and social changes which have taken place, from the knowledgeable viewpoint of someone who has played s significant role in their development.

A strong focus on policy and strategy development means there is less detail of applications at the sharp end than some readers might want, but attempts are made throughout the book to illustrate issues with patient and staff vignettes.

The book is well organised with a detailed contents list, some useful appendices and a comprehensive index. Page layout is clear although some of the diagrams might have been better in colour.

The book brings the topic up to date with detail of the National Programme for Health (NPfIT), but, as with any book in this area, in the couple of months since it was printed changes to terminology e.g. "NHS Connecting for Health" and the change of a major software supplier to the Southern Cluster of the NPfIT.

The history lesson provided shows how developments have built upon previous work, but also how some of the lessons of the past have not been learnt, and tries to draw some lessons and indulge in a little crystal ball gazing to answer the question "Will NPfIT succeed?"

A key point is brought out in the final chapters of the book which suggests that many of the decisions about software have now been made but success will depend on its adoption by all NHS staff.

inspirational, 26 Sep 2008
Having watched a TV documentary about the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia several years ago, I was greatly interested to read the full story of the Doctors Hamlin. What a remarkable couple - true humanitarians in every sense. What they have achieved is truly astonishing.
These poor young Ethiopian girls have endured pain, isolation and degredation through ignorance and poor health care, some as young as 13 going through many days of labour to deliver a dead baby, and then suffering terrible internal injuries often resulting in fistula, leaving them incontinent and destined to a life of shame. Doctors Reg and Catherine Hamlin from Australia pioneered reconstructive surgery and have a 93% success rate of curing these women, literally giving them their lives back. They train health care workers, midwives, doctors and have opened outreach clinics and a safe permanent home for the few they cannot cure. Theirs is a heart-warming story - I cried when I read it. There are some truly selfless people in the world, who genuinely care for others. I urge you to read this book. It will make you appreciate just how lucky we are to be born into a society where women are educated and have access to proper health care.

Incredible, 09 Apr 2008
I read this book as a first year medical student and it has inspired me throughout my studies... I'm currently planning my medical elective to Ethiopia due to this book!
Read it, I am certain you will find it incredible.

Inspirational, 22 Feb 2006
This book chronicles the work of the Hamlins, doctors from the UK who set up a women's hospital in Ethiopia. The book really highlights just how horrendous life can be for women in areas of the world where there is little health infrastructure, but unlike alot of investigative journalism for example, which deals with similar issues, there is light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the Hamlin's ongoing activities. A great example of what commitment, dedication, faith and love can do in the face of despair.

In addition there are some really interesting bits of medical history thrown in as well. Highly recommended.

Rambling and undecided what kind of book it is, 03 Aug 2006
I found myself skipping sections of this book. It was thin on those aspects of the Hospital I was interested in and was fluffed out with tenuous links and diverged into fanciful passages and recent personal memories from the author. Scant illustrations. I put the book down unsatisfied.

A Southamptonian delight!, 15 Apr 2005
From Pat Moore (whom I knew) to Philip Hoare, this is quite the most evocative and beautifully written book that I have ever read. It is James Joyce with punctuation. It haunts me with memories of youth and not belonging, of small-town embarrassment and anonymity, but grows to a reconciling pride in our local character. The author's research into the history of Spike Island is a fascinating vehicle for his exploration of being young, emotional and curious. To me - and, I hope, to many others - this is the most well-constructed, entertaining, imaginative, haunting and compelling piece of writing that I have ever had the pleasure of encountering. I was young again and having familiar memories reinterpreted. My sincere thanks to its author.

John Foley.

Beautiful and melancholy account of Netley Hospital, 12 Mar 2005
I have never read any other book that is able to capture the spirit of a place quite like this book. As I small child, I can well remeber being taken to Netley Abbey on Sunday afternoons and the erie description the Hoare evokes is spot on.
Much of this book concerns itself with the pioneering military hospital, a close neighbour of the abbey and which too evokes a morbid fascination as what remains of the establishment is enveloped in a cloak of melancholy. Hoare explains the fate of the first inhabitants of the hospital, the secret experiments that are supposed to have taken place and even the odd ghost story. Wrapped up in this are a cast of diverse characters such as Jane Austen and Wilfrid Owen. The writer captures the decay of Southampton as a great transatlantic port with aplomb.
This is a book that I could not put down and that got passed around amongst family and friends who similarly were entralled by the extremely well-written narrative. Recommended, especially for all readers around Southampton.

A very unusual book., 15 Apr 2003
This is a most unusual book that is hard to categorise. It combines history, recollection, literature and family history in a fascinating way. The one problem is that the photographs are terrible. They are very dark, and it's extremely difficult to make them out - which is perhaps why the writer gives a detailed description of them in the text! Surely the editor could have sorted this out?

Great idea - shame about the self-indulgence, 30 Aug 2002
At times Philip Hoare's refusal to write the excellent book his subject and his talents deserve seems almost wilful. The inter-locking of his own reminiscences and the history of Netley Hospital sometimes works well, more often not, and by the end the impossibly fey and self-indulgent epilogue has the reader gasping for the finish-line. Mr. Hoare seems to think that he has something significant to say about dreams and reality; if he has, it escaped me - except to note that he seems to have been (to still be?) highly imaginative in his youth. I can well understand the differences of opinion about how well he writes. Much of the time he achieves clarity and momentum, only to let himself down by extended passages of 'fine writing', filled with similes of dubious value. The strained comparisons between Netley Abbey and the hospital are among the more annoying, as are his far too frequent references to Stephen Tennant, the subject of a previous book by his. Equally perverse is the decision to reproduce photographs in small size on matt paper so that the reader cannot compare the descriptions of details in the text. The quality of research, the frequently efficient presentation of material and (above all) the fascination of the subject gave pleasure, but I am now going to see if Amazon stocks a book that actually tells the story of Netley.

Succinct but detailed and pocket sized and handy to have!, 01 May 2008
5 straight forward chapters detailing key elements of ward working. Some chapters may seem like `common sense' i.e `know who your patients are' but a good reminder of the basics.

This book is very black and white, blunt at times yet informative with no room for misunderstandings.

Whilst some information you would expect the qualified Nurse to know, (integrated care pathways and interviewing the patient), but for newly qualifieds or those lacking experience / confidence there is lots of information on the `basics' - observations, monitoring etc with abbreviations explaining what they mean and why they are used.

Excellent sections detail all major anatomical and physiological systems in the body detailing features, common disorders, treatments and appropriate nursing care. A well documented section on pharmacology covers topics such as the misuse of drugs act, injection sites for S/C's and I/M's and for the totally inexperienced details of drug classification and warning signs of possible poisoning.

An ideal guide for all Nurses, and the size means it can be carried around with ease, a good handbag size to pull out and read on breaks.


Survival guide for any nurse!!!!!!!, 30 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic book for not only nurses but also student nurses. It covers everything that you need to know from, procedures such as ECG's and Urine Tests, to a section decidated to Pharmacology. As well as having in depth details on numerous procedures and drugs the book also contains a section on systems such as the renal and nervous systems for example. These are then broken into sections containing illnesses/problems and why they occur, and the nursing care required. The book also covers a large amount of A and P, and would be excellent for the Specfic Health Needs and Individual Health Needs module due to the amount of information it contains. The book it self is also small which I find great as you can pop it in your bag and use it to refer whist on placement. I know several other student nurses who have brought this book and also rave about it and would strongly reccomend it.

invaluable!!!, 26 Jul 2007
As a student nurse and in the first two years post qualifying i found this book was great to keep nearby as a quick reference guide to most things you might come accross. As a student it was rarely out of my pocket or bag...Highly recommended for any student nurse or newly qualified!!!

Invaluable, 29 Sep 2006
Found this book great. It's small so easy to take to placement and has tons of information from Asthma to Parenteral nutrition. It's like a more informative mini dictionary. I found it money well spent.

Fantastic Book!, 27 May 2006
I am a student nurse and I found this book a brilliant guide to life on the wards. You will not regret buying this book its small enough for your bag but a wealth of information

An essential book for all Physiotherapy students, 22 Jan 2000
This is a very interesting and readable title which I feel has to be a must for physiotherapy students. Each chapter holds a wealth of information which is clearly written, is easy to understand and is relevant to undergraduate physiotherapy studies.

Specific chapters within the book stand out which are especially interesting and well worth a read. Peripheral nerve Lesions by R Birch et al gives a clear understanding of manangement for those first encountering peripheral nerve lesions.

Specific treatment techniques contributed by J Jackson provides and concise and excellent overview of the techniques and skills available to physiotherapists with neurology. This chapter provides the core information needed by students and is supported by numerous, useful references to explore.

Also of interest was spinal cord Injury by Rowley et al which gives a good outline of the holistic management of spinal cord injuries including the background pathology and appropriate physiotherapeutic rehabilitation.

Out of the 5 titles in the series, I have found Neurological physiotherapy the most useful, but as a whole each book in the series is great value for money .

Overall view? Add this book to your collection!, 11 Mar 2002
This book comes to the reader with excellent credentials.

All chapters have been drawn from learning materials prepared for the Management Education Scheme by Open Learning (MESOL) and it has been selected as the prescribed text for students from the health and social care sector who are undertaking the Professional Certificate in Management of the OU Business School.

With 18 chapters ranging in topics from Your Job As A Manager through to Service Planning, Accountability & Risk via such interesting sections as Working With Standards and Mapping The Service Environment, this book attempts to cover all the aspects of a manager's job. However, despite excellent material, one is left with feeling that most of the chapters are simply an introduction to the subject, rather than an in-depth analysis of the topic.

However, the material that is covered is considered from the perspective of health and social care which is a delight for regular readers of management books! Authors of the original material included Social Care managers, GP practice managers, NHS training managers and university lecturers - so there can be no accusations that they do not understand our environment. Indeed, the numerous case studies display an awareness of this field that is normally not seen in standard texts.

So, overall, a huge recommendation to add this book to your collection. Even better, add it to your Learning Resource Centre - just don't think that it is the final word!

This a Reception Management book and much more!, 02 Apr 2001
The title of this book does not do it justice or make it available to the wider audience to which it applies. The information contained is useful for Managers and reception staff as it contains everything you need to know about all aspects of managing the administration/reception side of a General Practice, and much more. It explains clearly many topics and gives the user a very comprehensive background to all job related tasks.

A useful guide for any member of the General Practice Team.

Excellent book both historically and looking to the future, 27 Mar 2008
This book is very interesting for anyone involved in NHS IT or in national scale computer projects.
It is apposite as comtemporary to the most expensive potential waste of public money this century.
This book is written by a man with a life time experience of NHS IT - almost from its beginnings, and his wealth of experience fills every page.
The way he sets out the stall of NHS IT history is particularly interesting - relating it to the history of the carriage wheel and the blinkered vision of those who have simply inherited the system and never sought to overhaul it. He also deals with the out of the box thinking that could transform NHS IT service delivery and its possible interaction with patients. However one cannot help but agree with his final analysis and feel dissatified with the current structure of the NHS IT project.

If you ever had doubts about Computerising the NHS, 14 Jul 2006
Excellent easy to read book. Told me all I needed to know about computerising the NHS and more. If you ever had any doubts about why it badly needs doing, read Chapter 2. I am a District Nurse and currently part of a pilot site for the Programme, I was badly in need of some information as to why we were going through hell. Now I know.
Also a great resource for websites and organisations, such as Governments, Media, Universities, you name it. Well done Sean Brennan.

Rod's review of the NHS IT project, 16 Jun 2005
This very readable book provides an overview of NHS IT strategies over the last 30 years, and places these within the wider political and social changes which have taken place, from the knowledgeable viewpoint of someone who has played s significant role in their development.

A strong focus on policy and strategy development means there is less detail of applications at the sharp end than some readers might want, but attempts are made throughout the book to illustrate issues with patient and staff vignettes.

The book is well organised with a detailed contents list, some useful appendices and a comprehensive index. Page layout is clear although some of the diagrams might have been better in colour.

The book brings the topic up to date with detail of the National Programme for Health (NPfIT), but, as with any book in this area, in the couple of months since it was printed changes to terminology e.g. "NHS Connecting for Health" and the change of a major software supplier to the Southern Cluster of the NPfIT.

The history lesson provided shows how developments have built upon previous work, but also how some of the lessons of the past have not been learnt, and tries to draw some lessons and indulge in a little crystal ball gazing to answer the question "Will NPfIT succeed?"

A key point is brought out in the final chapters of the book which suggests that many of the decisions about software have now been made but success will depend on its adoption by all NHS staff.

inspirational, 26 Sep 2008
Having watched a TV documentary about the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia several years ago, I was greatly interested to read the full story of the Doctors Hamlin. What a remarkable couple - true humanitarians in every sense. What they have achieved is truly astonishing.
These poor young Ethiopian girls have endured pain, isolation and degredation through ignorance and poor health care, some as young as 13 going through many days of labour to deliver a dead baby, and then suffering terrible internal injuries often resulting in fistula, leaving them incontinent and destined to a life of shame. Doctors Reg and Catherine Hamlin from Australia pioneered reconstructive surgery and have a 93% success rate of curing these women, literally giving them their lives back. They train health care workers, midwives, doctors and have opened outreach clinics and a safe permanent home for the few they cannot cure. Theirs is a heart-warming story - I cried when I read it. There are some truly selfless people in the world, who genuinely care for others. I urge you to read this book. It will make you appreciate just how lucky we are to be born into a society where women are educated and have access to proper health care.

Incredible, 09 Apr 2008
I read this book as a first year medical student and it has inspired me throughout my studies... I'm currently planning my medical elective to Ethiopia due to this book!
Read it, I am certain you will find it incredible.

Inspirational, 22 Feb 2006
This book chronicles the work of the Hamlins, doctors from the UK who set up a women's hospital in Ethiopia. The book really highlights just how horrendous life can be for women in areas of the world where there is little health infrastructure, but unlike alot of investigative journalism for example, which deals with similar issues, there is light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the Hamlin's ongoing activities. A great example of what commitment, dedication, faith and love can do in the face of despair.

In addition there are some really interesting bits of medical history thrown in as well. Highly recommended.

Rambling and undecided what kind of book it is, 03 Aug 2006
I found myself skipping sections of this book. It was thin on those aspects of the Hospital I was interested in and was fluffed out with tenuous links and diverged into fanciful passages and recent personal memories from the author. Scant illustrations. I put the book down unsatisfied.

A Southamptonian delight!, 15 Apr 2005
From Pat Moore (whom I knew) to Philip Hoare, this is quite the most evocative and beautifully written book that I have ever read. It is James Joyce with punctuation. It haunts me with memories of youth and not belonging, of small-town embarrassment and anonymity, but grows to a reconciling pride in our local character. The author's research into the history of Spike Island is a fascinating vehicle for his exploration of being young, emotional and curious. To me - and, I hope, to many others - this is the most well-constructed, entertaining, imaginative, haunting and compelling piece of writing that I have ever had the pleasure of encountering. I was young again and having familiar memories reinterpreted. My sincere thanks to its author.

John Foley.

Beautiful and melancholy account of Netley Hospital, 12 Mar 2005
I have never read any other book that is able to capture the spirit of a place quite like this book. As I small child, I can well remeber being taken to Netley Abbey on Sunday afternoons and the erie description the Hoare evokes is spot on.
Much of this book concerns itself with the pioneering military hospital, a close neighbour of the abbey and which too evokes a morbid fascination as what remains of the establishment is enveloped in a cloak of melancholy. Hoare explains the fate of the first inhabitants of the hospital, the secret experiments that are supposed to have taken place and even the odd ghost story. Wrapped up in this are a cast of diverse characters such as Jane Austen and Wilfrid Owen. The writer captures the decay of Southampton as a great transatlantic port with aplomb.
This is a book that I could not put down and that got passed around amongst family and friends who similarly were entralled by the extremely well-written narrative. Recommended, especially for all readers around Southampton.

A very unusual book., 15 Apr 2003
This is a most unusual book that is hard to categorise. It combines history, recollection, literature and family history in a fascinating way. The one problem is that the photographs are terrible. They are very dark, and it's extremely difficult to make them out - which is perhaps why the writer gives a detailed description of them in the text! Surely the editor could have sorted this out?

Great idea - shame about the self-indulgence, 30 Aug 2002
At times Philip Hoare's refusal to write the excellent book his subject and his talents deserve seems almost wilful. The inter-locking of his own reminiscences and the history of Netley Hospital sometimes works well, more often not, and by the end the impossibly fey and self-indulgent epilogue has the reader gasping for the finish-line. Mr. Hoare seems to think that he has something significant to say about dreams and reality; if he has, it escaped me - except to note that he seems to have been (to still be?) highly imaginative in his youth. I can well understand the differences of opinion about how well he writes. Much of the time he achieves clarity and momentum, only to let himself down by extended passages of 'fine writing', filled with similes of dubious value. The strained comparisons between Netley Abbey and the hospital are among the more annoying, as are hi