Product Description

Phil Hammond has spent 16 1/2 years exposing the dark side of medicine in the pages of Private Eye, and suggesting ways to make the NHS safer. His columns nearly stopped the Bristol heart scandal and have helped make surgery safer for some children. But much of healthcare remains dangerous and unacceptable, thanks to the failure of successive governments, the medical establishment, managers and frontline staff to take safety seriously. Building on previous editions of Trust Me, Hammond provides compelling evidence that there is still much to be done, and issues a rallying cry for the NHS to ditch commercialisation and unite around safety. And he suggests questions that patients could ask to get better, safer care.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9397 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-23
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
It is very much in people's interest to stop blindly trusting the surgeon to do his or he best, and move to a position of informed scepticism . . . If you have any doubts about whether this is strictly necessary, Hammond's book will put you right. --Dr James Le Fanu, Sunday Telegraph

Sceptical, irreverent, very funny and like a mighty gust of fresh air in a field that's bedevilled with cover-ups and cloaked in a vow of silence. --Time Out

One of the most entertainingly subversive people on the planet. --Nancy Banks Smith, The Guardian

About the Author
Dr Phil Hammond is a doctor, comedian and commentator on UK health. He is the author of the hugely popular Amazon best-seller Medicine Balls. He also writes the Medicine Balls column for Private Eye and regularly appears on Radio 4 in 28 Minutes to Save the NHS and The News Quiz, and on TV as a regular guest on Countdown, Have I Got News For You and on BBC's Trust Me, I'm A Doctor.

Customer Reviews

Remaining Constructively Sceptical
Dr Phil Hammond is unashamedly open about his profession. He provides a rare insight into the dark side of medical culture and training. As patients we can sometimes experience an overwhelming pressure to keep quiet and hand over our health care lock,stock and barrel to the doctor sitting in front of us. Doctors may want to do their best for every patient they meet, but in this book Hammond reveals to us a real human tapestry against which failure and mistakes occur routinely and unsurprisingly given the historical background, culture and initiation rites of medical students. It is a sad tale and it needs changing not only for the well being of patients but for the well being of doctors too. His message is like a clarion call to the public. Inform yourselves, remain constructively sceptical, and take responsibility for your health care. Above all do not be afraid to ask questions. If you don't know which questions to ask Dr Hammond has thoughtfully provided a list for you. There is also a message to the Royal Colleges. Open your eyes and end your culture of cover up and secrecy. Regulate your profession prospectively, be accountable for your mistakes. Patients do not expect you to be GOD, they expect you to give them clear, real anwers to the difficult questions they ask, so they can make informed choices which maintain their self- respect and dignity. Next time you are in a hospital as a patient make sure you have access to this book. it will act as a powerful advocate of your well-being and give you a measure of autonomy. Maria Shortis - parent of child who died following heart surgery at Bristol in 1987. Founder member BHCAG (Bristol Heart Children Action Group) Director CDCA -Constructive Dialogue for Clinical Accountability

Trust?
The old adage is that most people know more about how their car works than they do about their body. And most people ask more questions of the bloke fitting new brake-pads than the surgeon about to take out their appendix. This odd relationship between patient and doctor (patient: startled rabbit, doctor: headlamp) is summed up in the ironic title of 'Trust Me..' It's a book patients should probably read, unless they are of an especially rabbit-like disposition. Like every other doctor I know, I am aware of at least one 'colleague' who I wouldn't let within six feet of me holding anything sharp, but I'm still not sure what to do about it.

A must for anyone - well or ill
There are brief essays about the highlights of the career of each Secretary of State for Health in the last twenty or thirty years interspersed with excerpts from the author's 'Private Eye' column. There are also items about various illnesses and high profile cases and scandals - including the Bristol heart scandal (exposed by Dr Hammond). The style is down to earth and straightforward and there is an excellent section at the end of questions patients should be asking their doctors about any treatment they're given. One thing that especially sticks in my mind is the comment that only a third of patients on long term medication take it properly. If that is the case then how can we be sure whether such drugs really work? There is definitely food for thought in this particularly for anyone who is on long term medication for any reason or for anyone about to have any sort of treatment in hospital. If you know anyone in this situation - do them a favour and buy them this book - if nothing else it could get them better treatment in hospital if they leave it lying around prominently!