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You Went to Emergency for What?
Bizarre, bloody and baffling true stories from the hospital ED, told by bestselling author and paramedic Tim Booth.
When paramedic Tim Booth finds himself rushing a patient's dead cat to a (human) hospital's Emergency Department for resuscitation, he finds himself wondering where it all went wrong.
From bedroom mishaps and hypochondriacs to suspicious rashes and freak cattle incidents, the doctors, nurses and paramedics of our hospital EDs have seen everything. Every day, Tim and his colleagues battle burnout, an overburdened healthcare system and compassion fatigue, powered only by caffeine, dark humour and a heartfelt drive to save lives. But the moments of Hollywood heroism are few, as they struggle to navigate the chaotic, absurd and sometimes downright ridiculous side of emergency medicine.
Written like a night shift in Emergency - dark, unpredictable, and likely to make you question humanity's collective IQ - You Went to Emergency for What? reveals the weirdest, funniest and most heart-wrenching true stories of what really goes on in our hospitals.
When paramedic Tim Booth finds himself rushing a patient's dead cat to a (human) hospital's Emergency Department for resuscitation, he finds himself wondering where it all went wrong.
From bedroom mishaps and hypochondriacs to suspicious rashes and freak cattle incidents, the doctors, nurses and paramedics of our hospital EDs have seen everything. Every day, Tim and his colleagues battle burnout, an overburdened healthcare system and compassion fatigue, powered only by caffeine, dark humour and a heartfelt drive to save lives. But the moments of Hollywood heroism are few, as they struggle to navigate the chaotic, absurd and sometimes downright ridiculous side of emergency medicine.
Written like a night shift in Emergency - dark, unpredictable, and likely to make you question humanity's collective IQ - You Went to Emergency for What? reveals the weirdest, funniest and most heart-wrenching true stories of what really goes on in our hospitals.
- GenresNonfiction
320 pages, Paperback
Published July 29, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 5, 2026
The author spends more time repeating the same complaints about people and the healthcare system than actual tellings of comedic events. As a healthcare worker I understand, but the complaining about work really drags on and takes up 70% of each chapter. Also the first chapter bashing ADHD diagnoses and the P.Diddy joke left a bad taste in my mouth. Disappointing.
May 5, 2026
I could not finish this.
If the author was trying to garner sympathy for nurses and their struggles, he failed miserably at that.
I get it. Front line workers from all professions have it tough. But the constant complaining and arrogant, flippant, ableist remarks that was supposed to be “humour”? Doesn’t make the profession look endearing, and paints nurses in such a bad light in general with the lack of compassion and empathy displayed in the fictional characters he’s created to tell the true stories.
The last straw was the chapter where the nurses are being horrible to the doctor who unsuccessfully tried to revive a patient. No empathy for this poor doctor. Just disparaging comments about how he should have given up trying to save the patient ages ago. Absolutely appalling!
I’m sure there are better books out there that discuss the struggles of nursing and the complications of the hospital system in a much more affirming and sensitive light. However, this book isn’t it.
If the author was trying to garner sympathy for nurses and their struggles, he failed miserably at that.
I get it. Front line workers from all professions have it tough. But the constant complaining and arrogant, flippant, ableist remarks that was supposed to be “humour”? Doesn’t make the profession look endearing, and paints nurses in such a bad light in general with the lack of compassion and empathy displayed in the fictional characters he’s created to tell the true stories.
The last straw was the chapter where the nurses are being horrible to the doctor who unsuccessfully tried to revive a patient. No empathy for this poor doctor. Just disparaging comments about how he should have given up trying to save the patient ages ago. Absolutely appalling!
I’m sure there are better books out there that discuss the struggles of nursing and the complications of the hospital system in a much more affirming and sensitive light. However, this book isn’t it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2026
An honest, sad, and maddening look at the paramedics and the emergency departments forming part of the Australian health system.
These stories are told by paramedics and the E.D. doctors and nurses who deal with the serious, the stupid and the downright ridiculous every day.
The names of patients and staff have been changed, as well as the name of the hospital, for obvious reasons.
The stories include a 17 year old who thought it a good idea to down 9 energy drinks in a row, sending his heart rate to 220 beats a minute, and a man who tried something 'different' with his girlfriend, and broke his penis.
A very different read!!
These stories are told by paramedics and the E.D. doctors and nurses who deal with the serious, the stupid and the downright ridiculous every day.
The names of patients and staff have been changed, as well as the name of the hospital, for obvious reasons.
The stories include a 17 year old who thought it a good idea to down 9 energy drinks in a row, sending his heart rate to 220 beats a minute, and a man who tried something 'different' with his girlfriend, and broke his penis.
A very different read!!
January 2, 2026
Not the hilarious book you might think, though there are the bizarre moments the professional medical fraternity come across.
The state of our health system is rather ironic and is held together by medical professionals under extreme pressure and this book is one of those cries for help and understanding from the public.
It is not to be used by self obsessed and selfish people who think the world solely revolves around them.
The state of our health system is rather ironic and is held together by medical professionals under extreme pressure and this book is one of those cries for help and understanding from the public.
It is not to be used by self obsessed and selfish people who think the world solely revolves around them.
October 21, 2025
Tim has again written a book that tells the funny, sad, good, bad and weird things that happen in a health system that is chronically underfunded, understaff and used by the public as a free service because GPs are expensive with a long waiting list.
May 17, 2026
Being an ambo must be tough. Our health system seems like an injustice at times, but this was a cynical and quite boring book. DNF
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews