If you are looking for a funny, laugh out loud, side splitting book, this is it.

As well as being extremely funny, this book gives us insights into a world most of us don’t occupy on a daily basis but would like to think is being managed and operated to the highest standards – the world of healthcare.

During 6 years working as a Junior Doctor for the NHS, Adam documented everything he did medically as he was meant to and then created this book with memories and anecdotes of all the, in his own words, ‘weird stuff’ that happened.

Adam’s humour, wit and innate comedic writing skills make this a book of two halves – it is a hugely uplifting book but is also scary knowing all of the stories Adam tells are true. Adam worked his way up the grades of being a Doctor in the NHS with low pay, long hours, working shifts back to back with little or no breaks, inadequate and sometimes absent training, little to no acknowledgement/thanks and also lacking the support structure that is so important in all workplaces and even more so in the medical care profession.

The pace of this book leaves us wondering if Adam had any time during these 6 years for anything other than his job. Even with all the stresses and strains of his job, Adam admits sometimes all he ever wanted was a reassuring word that he was doing a good job and a gesture of gratitude for same.

To know he was doing a good job and that he was valued for his enormous contribution would have gone a long way to increasing Adam’s job satisfaction.

Does this sound familiar to you in today’s fast pace world of business? Wouldn’t everyone’s working lives be better/easier if they were made feel valued and reassured that their contribution is recognised and appreciated? It’s amazing how the simple act of gratitude can be missing from the modern workplace when it is so critical to people’s happiness and in turn businesses longevity and success.

As funny as this book is, it is also very serious. Adam’s job involved life and death situations and  decisions every day. He practised as an obstetrician and so these life and death decisions involved patients who were expectant mothers and new-born babies. Some of Adam’s stories are very sad and no doubt were traumatising for all involved. This serious side to Adam’s job is in stark contrast to the humour that fills most of the book and is a reminder that life can indeed be cruel and no matter how much excellent medical care you have access to, bad things can still happen.

Adam admits there is huge culture change required in the NHS, no doubt our own Irish health care system requires a shakeup of it’s culture. The most important part of this culture change, Adam explains, is more funding for the support of health care professionals in their professional and personal lives so they can continue to do their jobs to the best of their ability. Adam highlights that there is a lack of mental health care for medical professionals. Even though this has got better in recent years, there is still a huge gap in the system to support medical professionals with their mental health as a result of the stresses and strains that accompany their jobs.

This lack of support for mental health care is highlighted at the end of the book when Adam lives through a traumatic event at work and had no choice but to turn up the next day and carry out his duties as normal. I can’t help but think how our healthcare systems could benefit from Lean methodology looking after their employees and patients as priority!!

It’s no surprise Adam is now a comedy writer & comedian. He is naturally hilarious and has a wizardry of wit with words which makes this book a really enjoyable read,

Thanks for reading,

Siobhain

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