Product Description

Despite the headlines, actually the NHS has just had its best year ever.
Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health, eulogising to the BBC, 22nd April 2006
Despite what the politicians say, things have gone a bit tits up recently.
Dr Nick Edwards, A&E Doctor, ranting to his mates down the pub, 22nd April 2006
Dr Nick Edwards is an Accident and Emergency (A&E) Doctor working in the UK and a passionate believer in the NHS. However the reforms, political correctness and the Anglo-Saxon culture of binge drinking and fighting and the resulting A&E visits are a strain on his sanity. So, to keep up his morale, he began writing down his feelings a form of literary cathartic therapy the results of which make up this book.
From dealing with cardiac arrests and car accidents, to people with Arrest Avoidance Syndrome and others who haven t quite read the big red sign above their heads as they walk into A&E, In Stitches paints a vivid picture of what it s really like working at the sharp end of the NHS today. It s funny, it s heartbreaking and it s infuriating. It s also more informative than any government press release.
So join Dr Nick Edwards as he describes the frustrations and joys of working in the NHS. The traumas and tragedies, the patients and colleagues and most of all the successes and humour that make up life at the frontline of medical care: Accident and Emergency.
Note to reader: ever conscious of meaningless targets, the author would like it to be known that 98% of the stories contained within this book were written in under 4 hours.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6913 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Synopsis
'Despite the headlines, actually the NHS has just had its best year ever.' Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of Sate for Health, eulogising to the BBC, 22nd April 2006 'Despite what the politicians say, things seem to have gone a bit tits-up recently.' Dr Nick Edwards, A&E doctor, ranting to his mates down the pub, 22nd April 2006 Dr Nick Edwards is an Accident and Emergency (A&E) doctor working in the UK and a passionate believer in the NHS. However the reforms, political correctness and the Anglo-Saxon culture of binge drinking and fighting and the resulting A&E visits are a strain on his sanity. So to keep up his morale, he began writing down his feelings - a form of literary cathartic therapy - the results of which make up this book. From dealing with cardiac arrests and car accidents, to people with 'Arrest Avoidance Syndrome' and others who haven't quite read the big red sign above their heads as they walk into A&E, In Stitches paints a vivid picture of what it's really like working at the sharp end of the NHS today. It's funny, it's heartbreaking and it's infuriating. It's also more informative than any government press release.So join Dr Nick Edwards as he describes the frustrations and joys of working in the NHS.

The traumas and tragedies, the patients and colleagues and most of all the successes and humour that make up life at the frontline of medical care: Accident and Emergency. Note to reader: ever-conscious of meaningless targets, the author would like it to be known that 98% of the stories contained in this book were written in under 4 hours.

Customer Reviews

Little has changed... J.S. South Africa
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
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
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.