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ramreadsagain's review against another edition
This was excellent, I've never laughed so hard and so frequently at a book, and then had the last few pages nearly make me cry. Our NHS is something we need to grab on to with both hands and never let go, yet the UK government is making many willingly chuck it down the drain. The problems in the NHS (caused by government cuts etc) can be fixed by investing in the NHS and its doctors (and nurses, and other staff), not by getting rid of it. As someone who hopefully has 30-40 years before I start seriously needing healthcare, I am afraid for what that will look like in our country by then. Do I start saving now?
Some sections in particular were really informative, such as the part about how NHS access to fertility help works (i.e. arbitrarily and cruelly), and in general the ridiculous ways that junior doctors are treated in terms of where and how they work. My partner's sister will be a junior doctor next year and I'll be very interested (and probably saddened) to hear what has changed.
Loved this book, though could tell it had all gone through heavy editing. Would have liked a more realistic look at what his daily thoughts would have looked like jotted down back then.
Some heavy fatphobia in some places to the usual doctor tune of "why would they not just lose weight? fat people are idiots amirite" which was disappointing. It always amazes me how little doctors know about how that works.
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Terminal illness and Abortion
Minor: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
bailey63's review against another edition
4.5
(Listened to as an audiobook)
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
mshusky's review against another edition
4.5
The British medical system sounds like it is tettering on the edge of disaster, and I am concerned how it is in my country, with teh cutbacks and staff shortages from the stress of the covid era.
The British humour can be snarky, and at times Adam seems to be a bit of a snob, but also it shows how his empathy is drained as the years go by.
Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, and Medical trauma
stabilesero's review against another edition
4.0
Adam Kay provides a funny, reflective and truthful account about the UK's Healthcare system and the applaudable yet undervalued work of those employed by the NHS.
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Suicide, Vomit, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
emilo's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Fatphobia, Racism, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
bnelson13's review against another edition
5.0
Kay writes how difficult it is working in a system that doesn't quite support doctors, midwives, nurses and other hospital staff, and the impacts on their personal lives that also suffer. Kay has since left the healthcare industry but wrote this novel in solidarity, as an insight into hospital life for the general population after the government started to attack the NHS and saying that doctors are only in it for the money in 2016.
A very insightful read, if you thought working in a hospital was already difficult, it's actually 10x worse than what you had thought. As it is, now in 2023, and with Covid still running rampant, it's clear that a lot of healthcare systems are crumbling due to lack of staffing, lack of care for staff, and governments out to make as many monetary cutbacks as they possibly can. I think we're on a slippery slope with the healthcare system now, and this book is proof that things need to change. Very eye opening. Well worth the read.
Graphic: Blood and Medical content
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Vomit, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Grief, and Alcohol
smupple's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer and Grief
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use
bookbird's review
5.0
Jan 2024: I don't think I'll ever be able to properly express how highly I recommend this book.
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
dizzyizzy's review
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Vomit, Abortion, and Death of parent
cicelybelle's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail