Bush Doctors

by Annabelle Brayley

Sixteen stories of amazing outback doctors and their heroic deeds, from the bestselling author of  Bush Nurses  and  Nurses of the Outback . Imagine yourself critically injured or seriously ill in the middle of nowhere. You’d be hoping like hell there was a doctor nearby to take charge; someone resourceful, who’d think quickly and stay calm under pressure; someone who could, if necessary, take charge from a distance. You’d want to be in the safe and sure hands of one of these amazing bush doctors. They might work in some of the most spectacular locations in Australia – from the splendid isolation of the Kimberley and the wide open spaces of outback Queensland to the freezing icecaps of Antarctica – but their profession demands long hours, extensive medical knowledge and, sometimes, courage beyond their experience. Meet some of the extraordinary medicos who save lives everyday beyond the great divide including Jenny Wilson, the locum with itchy feet who roams Australia and beyond to help people; Rolf Gomes, who built a ‘heart truck’ to take life-saving medical advice to the inland; and Molly Shorthouse who cares for people’s mental health. And, always, there’s the Royal Flying Doctors… From the bestselling author of  Nurses of the Outback , Bush Doctors  is a powerful and captivating tribute to all rural and remote doctors – unsung Australian heroes who truly do care.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2017

Reviews

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Rural medicine was, and still is, a job for life. You grow with your patients; your life is intertwined with the twists and turns of country life” - Dr Ewen McPhee
President, Rural Doctors Association of Australia

Bush Doctors is a fascinating collection of sixteen stories that celebrates the doctors upon whom the residents of rural and remote areas of Australia rely for everyday and emergency medical care.

I live in regional Australia, some 350km from a capital city, so I have experienced some of the challenges related to accessing health care. The doctors featured in this book work in area’s that are far more isolated, like Yulara in the Northern Territory (1,950 km south of Darwin), Mallacoota in Victoria (500km west of Melbourne), and Fitzroy Valley in Western Australia (1800 km north east of Perth).

Providing health care to the rural and remote areas of Australia poses unique challenges and it takes resourceful, determined, brave and committed people to do so. These stories provide a glimpse into the life of bush doctors, and the invaluable work they do every day. These general practitioners often almost single handedly service a community of a thousand or more, spread over a large geographical area, with limited resources. They find themselves responsible for a diverse population, treating a wide array of illnesses and injuries, working incredibly long hours to meet their patients needs.

Not only should a general audience find this book engaging, I think it should be required reading for those involved in making decisions about rural health services, especially those “who think they have a gilt-edged right to make decisions about people they’ve never met, who live in places they’ve never heard of, in circumstances they make no effort to understand.”

[Laura Downing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this book by a colleague. A highly enjoyable read.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fascinating read about outback medical doctors, ophthalmologist and many more. It’s so interesting to learn how people entered into the medical field and it’s interesting to learn that many people had different careers before they changed careers paths to medicine. It’s very easy to read so don’t be afraid!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The experiences of these doctors are interesting to read about, and it's hard to imagine facing the things they do in settings where there is very basic infrastructure. It shows huge amounts of personal strength and determination. An eye-opening read that highlights the privilege of those in urban areas!

[Maddy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

great narration.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6 stars

[Annie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such wonderful people. Annabelle made this a magnificient read. So humble.

[Wendy Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of doctors in outback & remote situations.

4.5 🌟

[Tina Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about the career journeys of rural and remote doctors.

[Rebecca Barker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give it another half a star to make it 3.5 if I could.
It was an easy, interesting read. I would have preferred more in-depth detail but overall it was a good read.

[Chris Eldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written easy to read and some amazing stories and inspiration

[Holli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful listen, (audiobook). ReInvigorated me for the importance of what I am doing out bush and inspired me to pursue acute medicine one day again soon.