Customer Reviews
Brings back memories... - By: R. Harrison, 28 Apr 2008 
This book is scarily accurate. Scary, in that it reminds me of my house officer days, & scary in that it reveals to the layman (and woman) the enormous naivety of the junior doctor on the first few days & weeks at work. However, this is not something to be hidden, & the author is to be commended for his brutal honesty. (For the record, we're not related, & I've never heard of him before, let alone met him!)
I'm not sure if this will appeal more to fellow doctors, who will remember everything Dr Pemberton alll-too-well recallls, & laugh & cry at it, or to members of the public, who will see behind the eyes of the terrified junior doctor, facing disease, expectation & impossibility alll at once.
I'm not sure what is meant by the contributor who thought House of God more representative of the NHS. For one, House of God is a much older book. Two, it is set in the USA. Three, it is a satire, whereas this, I promise you, is as real as life (and death) gets.
Buy it for your doctor friend, & he or she will thank you. Then borrow it.
Brutally honest - By: Ollie, 07 Apr 2008 
A few people are commenting saying that this book is not particularly funny, & its not. However, they don't seem to realise that it is not meant to be funny, that instead it lays bare the harsh reality of life in the NHS as a junior doctor. Stressed, tired, unappreciated & doing a lot of unpleasant things for not a lot of money.
As a medical student myself I can say that it is very close to the truth, & I would recommend this book to anyone considering a career in medicine. You will probably reconsider such a rash move, as I would have done if only I'd known!
Thought Provoking - By: David Cranson, 26 Mar 2008 Boris Johnson is quoted as saying this is "Painfully Funny" Well . . . yes & no.
Rather, it is a thoughful, well-written, worrying account of life for a junior doctor in his first after qualifying. There are actuallly very few genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, however the stories Dr Pemberton regales us with will make you smile, frown, laugh, almost cry . . .
If this is a true reflection of how the NHS is run - & treats it's Junior Doctors, then it is almost beyond belief that more people haven't died, & that more doctors aren't leaving in their droves.
There are stories of abuse, love, hate, fear, laughter, joy, discouragment - from colleagues & from patients. There are moments when you want to cry out in anger & frustration along with the autor. There are moments when you will laugh out loud. There are moments when you will shake your head in disbelief.
You may find yourself agreeing with the author - & others in the book - that things could be done so much better, if it wasn't for political creed & expediency - from alll sides of the political spectrum.
I would recommend this book to everyone who is considering a career in medicine. I would recommend it to evey politician & management consultant. To every Clinician, nurse, medical consultant & patient (past present or future).
This book is a damning indictment of the way the NHS is run now, & it is also uplifting. It is uplifting to understand that there are still dedicated people out there who want to work in our hospitals & put up with political interfering & the aggrevation from patients & senior doctors.
Like the author I believe that the NHS is a good thing, & must be saved at alll costs. However, also like the author I dispare sometimes of the way it is being treated.
Dull with a precious few funny moments - By: Luciana Montmorency, 24 Mar 2008 
There are a few comic episodes here but not enough unfortunately to leaven the mediocrity of the rest. I found this to be a superficial read & one which tries a little too hard to be PC. I feel I was misled by some of the other reviews on this page which are rather suspiciously unbalanced for such a unremarkable book.
If you want a real picture of life as a junior doctor, read Michael Foxton's "Bedside Stories."
Don't think twice- buy it! - By: C. Dawkins, 13 Mar 2008 Oh Dr Pemberton- you had me laughing out loud & crying in places! Over the years I have seen a million HO's pass through my ward & never knew what they were going through until now.
I could not put this book down- finished it within 24 hours & have recommended it to everyone i know. A stunningly accurate insight into the nhs & how it treats it's staff, & how the staff deal with it. This book is brilliant & I wish it was longer. Max goes through the highs & lows of being on the frontline of the health service, being deprived of sleep & food, seeing a body, seeing people through their stay.
'Trust me...' not only highlights the daunting role of a junior doctor but sympatheticallly explores the role of other in the hospital, & will definatly make u think twice about the way you see & talk to those on the 'shop floor'
Highly recommended, buy it now!!!!
