Reviewed by author and Corrieblog editor, Sue Haasler
I picked In Stitches up by chance - I love reading about other people's lives, and as I'm a huge fan of TV medical dramas I couldn't resist. However, any hope of buckets of blood and lashings of torrid linen-cupboard action are dispelled in the introduction: "It is a bit like what you see in TV programmes such as ER," the author says, "but with less sex and more paper work."
The book started out as a blog to vent his frustrations and Dr Edwards (not his real name) hopes the book becomes a campaigning tool against the privatisation and marketisation happening to the NHS. But it's also a damn good read.
The day-to-day realities of being on the front line of hospital
services is passionately, often humorously and sometimes
heartbreakingly conveyed. There are the funny stories of people with
mobile phones stuck in places they really shouldn't have been, and the
desperately sad ones like the 14 year old girl who took an overdose and
left a note asking her parents to look after her guinea pig (she
survived). And there's
top advice, too. I now know not to get ill on
the first Wednesday in August or the last Friday of the month. Why?
You'll have to read the book.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Heat by Bill Buford (an expose of the restaurant industry)
Being a full-time doctor, Nick's having trouble getting publicity for the book, particularly as he needs to hide behind his pseudonym. He is hoping someone reading might be able to help him with marketing the book.
If you're interested in featuring the book or Nick on your site or blog - or are able to offer any other kind of marketing assistance - please email us and we'll put you in touch with him. Thanks.
