ramreadsagain's review against another edition

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I don't usually give star ratings to memoirs and autobiographies.

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. 

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bailey63's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

Kinda gross, but like, necessarily so. Not for recommended for those with weak stomachs. It was funny, too, but I didn’t know how high I was gonna rate it until the very end. It was nearly a 5 star for me.

(Listened to as an audiobook)

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mshusky's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

4.5

Darkly funny and extremely poignant.  There were times I found myself shaking with laughter at the wryly observed anocdotes, but then sobered by the next tale of triumph or despair. 

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.

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stabilesero's review against another edition

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informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

This isn't my usual read, and if it had been strongly my cup of tea, it probably would have been a 5 star.
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. 

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emilo's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny informative reflective sad fast-paced

4.0


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bnelson13's review against another edition

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5.0

Another book, that if I could give it more than 5 stars I would! Mostly funny, slightly gross, this book is comprised of diary enteries from Dr. Adam Kay's time in Obgyn in various hospitals throughout the UK working for the NHS from 2004-2010. Certain terminology that may be lesser known is described in helpful footnotes throughout the entire book. 

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.

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smupple's review against another edition

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funny reflective medium-paced

4.0


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bookbird's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

Jan 2023: This must be my third or fourth reread of this incredibly special book. Kay is a master storyteller, and it's his finely balanced combination of light and dark that make this book so impactful. A must-read for anyone who has ever had even the briefest experience of the NHS.

Jan 2024: I don't think I'll ever be able to properly express how highly I recommend this book.

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dizzyizzy's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective fast-paced

4.5


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cicelybelle's review against another edition

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5.0

As someone who works in a veterinary hospital, I found this book in some ways very relatable as in the craziest cases are often true! It is a very enjoyable listen if you like biology and are appropriately thick skinned when it comes to guts, gore, and hospitals. It’s very funny, yet movingly and conveys well the strain the NHS is under. Recommend the TV series too, if you enjoy the book!

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