The inimitable curiosity of a boy whose cactus has left his hand in a mess. A distraught woman who regrets not going to see a GP sooner. More Googled self-diagnoses than one can count. This is the life of a doctor in the British capital.
After three years as one of London’s emergency doctors - a full-time night-time GP doing the house calls that no-one else wants to do - Alex Rudd has switched to working in surgeries. Rudd travels to a different place surgery each day, helping those struggling to cope with patient numbers and seeing those that might not otherwise be seen. With limited time to spend on each patient, he must walk the difficult line between caring for patients and diagnosing and prescribing efficiently. Hilarious diagnoses mix with genuine tragedies as Rudd sees a variety of patients, with all sorts of medical conditions.
In the follow-up to his first medical memoir, London Confessions of a Doctor in the Capital , Rudd presents us with another memorable window into the world of the freelance GP today, and the challenges they face. With moments that stir admiration and sadness, this timely and insightful memoir is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
Alex Rudd is a GP who now works as a locum in a variety of surgeries in London and the rest of the country. His name has been changed to protect the identity of his patients and colleagues.
I did not find this book interesting. To me it seems like the stories were incomplete and that the author was just ramb!ing to complete the book. His first book is better. I really don't recommend either book.
As I always love to read anecdotal life stories from people in the medical or veterinary professions, factual with a good dose of humor thrown is, this short book was the right mix of it all. I would've liked to have read more. Maybe Dr Rudd will write a full-length memoir (or series of books) at some point.
This book also reminded me of one of the main reasons I left the UK in 2007: too many inhabitants 'competing' for time in an ever shrinking pool of professional services. The NHS is envied as a system in other countries but, as I tell people, it's overstretched - and likely abused by those who don't really need to see a doctor. There's no way of discouraging time-wasters. Still, I guess a doctor will have to see everybody who makes an appointment and they will likely be able to weed out those who don't have to be there, who should not be in the doctor's office at all.
Being a nurse I love medical stories, and this is no exception. From t h e original to the exceptional, I love my patients and am never bored. Thank you Dr. Rudd for a glimpse inside the surgery.
Things are different in London, their Doctors, the way they treat and how they handle people. Then there is the same caring, responsible treatment that American Doctors do.
It was interesting but I'm glad I didn't pay for it as it was short. Also don't think it was proof read, or of it was it was not very well. There were quite a few errors, more so towards the end of the book, with missing words, sentences not quite making sense, grammatical errors. It's irritating.
I was so engrossed in the book that time just went by. It was interesting seeing life from the other side of the ‘chair’. Alex, to me, seems to have his patients weighed up really well. A great read.
The author spent a few months as a GP locum in London. Doctor in the House is a short book with some amusing stories about treating patients and thoughts about dealing with them and the NHS. It’s a great, quick book for anyone interested in the practice of medicine.
Another highly readable book from a practising doctor, giving insight into the world of a locum NHS doctor in London. Amusing yet thoughtful and giving you something to think about when it’s your turn to be as patient.
I loved this book. Being in the nursing profession I enjoy all things medical. These stories were easy to understand and interesting, the life of a doctor.
A good read but did feel slightly that he was trying to put people off seeing there GP not everyone is a timewaster. Some good stories in there though well worth a look.
With a good pace and punchy stories I enjoyed the harsh honesty of this memoir. I find it flowed well and kept me hooked. No amazing revelations, more like a 'week in the life of'; enjoyable none the less!