What do you think?
London Call-Out: Confessions of a Doctor in the Capital
London is the greatest city in the world – and also home to the most bizarre medical emergencies any doctor will ever witness.
As an emergency doctor, Alex Rudd visits homes across London throughout the night, treating all manner of ills from hypochondria to people with household objects stuck in their nether regions. It’s a job he loves, but it might drive him crazy – if he doesn’t die of exhaustion first. With poignant insights into the issues faced by strained NHS staff in a major city as well as a revealing look into the night shift team, Rudd's medical memoir is chocked full of unbelievable true anecdotes.
The stories he recounts will make you laugh and cry in equal measure as he lifts the lid on life as an on-call doctor in the capital in this entertaining, poignant medical memoir.
London Call-Out: Confessions of a Doctor in the Capital is a must read for fans of This Is Going to Hurt.
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.
As an emergency doctor, Alex Rudd visits homes across London throughout the night, treating all manner of ills from hypochondria to people with household objects stuck in their nether regions. It’s a job he loves, but it might drive him crazy – if he doesn’t die of exhaustion first. With poignant insights into the issues faced by strained NHS staff in a major city as well as a revealing look into the night shift team, Rudd's medical memoir is chocked full of unbelievable true anecdotes.
The stories he recounts will make you laugh and cry in equal measure as he lifts the lid on life as an on-call doctor in the capital in this entertaining, poignant medical memoir.
London Call-Out: Confessions of a Doctor in the Capital is a must read for fans of This Is Going to Hurt.
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.
79 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2013
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 29, 2019
Real-life short stories from a doctor based in the heart of London, some funny, some not so. It was a short read that I found on Kindle Unlimited. Even though some of it was interesting, the pacing and writing style did come across a little choppy. I would call this one a lunch break read!
January 31, 2021
Нямам си на идея защо, но обожавам да чета докторски книги, в които се разказва за абсурдните преживявания и срещи на доктори. Авторът на тази се справи повече от чудесно и определено успя както да ме забавлява, така и да ме разчувства.
March 29, 2013
At a time when the medical profession is under fire from all sides with failing hospitals, long waits for an out of hours visit or for a an appointment to see your GP this book is a timely reminder that seeing a doctor is a two way process. We have a right to medical treatment round the clock but we also have a responsibility not to call a doctor for trivial reasons.
Everyone should also have the responsibility not to be totally stupid but many don’t seem to take that particular responsibility very seriously. The cases the author writes about will shock you, make you laugh and even make you cry. Hopefully they will also make you think about the way you deal with the medical profession.
One man had used his girlfriend’s hair removing wax but had totally ignored the instructions with the result that he’d peeled off a good proportion of the skin under his arms. Drug addicts expect tranquilisers to counteract the effects of the illicit drugs they’ve taken – not to speak of a free taxi home.
There are also the people who are nearing the end of their lives who need more pain relief to see them through the dark watches of the night. The worried parents who fear their children may be seriously ill and the mental patients – care in the community – who do not know which way is up and who may harm themselves or others.
When you next use the out of hours doctor service and it takes a while for them to visit you stop and think about the other people who may need attention more urgently than you do.
Everyone should also have the responsibility not to be totally stupid but many don’t seem to take that particular responsibility very seriously. The cases the author writes about will shock you, make you laugh and even make you cry. Hopefully they will also make you think about the way you deal with the medical profession.
One man had used his girlfriend’s hair removing wax but had totally ignored the instructions with the result that he’d peeled off a good proportion of the skin under his arms. Drug addicts expect tranquilisers to counteract the effects of the illicit drugs they’ve taken – not to speak of a free taxi home.
There are also the people who are nearing the end of their lives who need more pain relief to see them through the dark watches of the night. The worried parents who fear their children may be seriously ill and the mental patients – care in the community – who do not know which way is up and who may harm themselves or others.
When you next use the out of hours doctor service and it takes a while for them to visit you stop and think about the other people who may need attention more urgently than you do.
September 28, 2019
Quite short series of unconnected episodes from around a decade ago, written without a great deal of style, humour of technical interest.
There are several of these ‘memoirs of a doctor’ around and they tend to follow a similar pattern. A bit of background, and then some excerpts from that particular medic’s typical workday. This guy was an out-of-hours locum, providing GP care overnight in London.
It should be a good platform for some medical insight, and anecdotes with genuine human interest, but instead most of it comes over like he’s in the pub at the end of a shift, grumbling in general. Not much biology or medicine mentioned, nor is it particularly well written.
It’s also extremely short; took me just half an hour to read. At the end of it I knew little more than at the start.
It might be cheap, but you’re probably better off paying two or three times the price for one of the several books in ‘Trust Me… I’m A Junior Doctor’ series.
4/10
There are several of these ‘memoirs of a doctor’ around and they tend to follow a similar pattern. A bit of background, and then some excerpts from that particular medic’s typical workday. This guy was an out-of-hours locum, providing GP care overnight in London.
It should be a good platform for some medical insight, and anecdotes with genuine human interest, but instead most of it comes over like he’s in the pub at the end of a shift, grumbling in general. Not much biology or medicine mentioned, nor is it particularly well written.
It’s also extremely short; took me just half an hour to read. At the end of it I knew little more than at the start.
It might be cheap, but you’re probably better off paying two or three times the price for one of the several books in ‘Trust Me… I’m A Junior Doctor’ series.
4/10
June 6, 2018
Quite a short book about a out of hours GP in London. The chapters don’t really flow, and cases are finished abruptly.
I couldn’t really take to Alex, the GP in question. He seemed a bit self conceited to me, and rather cold. Yes, he highlights some good stuff about the NHS, and people who abuse the system, but that’s about it .
I couldn’t really take to Alex, the GP in question. He seemed a bit self conceited to me, and rather cold. Yes, he highlights some good stuff about the NHS, and people who abuse the system, but that’s about it .
November 28, 2018
Interesting story about English NIH
This is a story about an English doctor who works night call. Apparently in England, the citizens have 24 hours health care where one can call to request house calls.The author make such calls though he can refer them to A&E, their GP in the AM or see them. As a retited RN, I found them interesting as I compared the two medical systems.
This is a story about an English doctor who works night call. Apparently in England, the citizens have 24 hours health care where one can call to request house calls.The author make such calls though he can refer them to A&E, their GP in the AM or see them. As a retited RN, I found them interesting as I compared the two medical systems.
December 8, 2024
Perfectly serviceable—if a bit short—three-star set of stories about working as an out-of-hours GP. Knocked it down a star for the xenophobic soliloquies about how foreign doctors don't speak good enough English and thus shouldn't be allowed to work in the UK.
As with any genre or subgenre, I find British medical memoirs to be hit or miss, but this particular subgenre seems to carry an unusually high proportion of low- or high-key xenophobes. Perhaps it's not surprising, because some of the authors Rudd cites as inspirations for his own work are among the more problematic of the doctor-writers I've read, but disappointing at best.
As with any genre or subgenre, I find British medical memoirs to be hit or miss, but this particular subgenre seems to carry an unusually high proportion of low- or high-key xenophobes. Perhaps it's not surprising, because some of the authors Rudd cites as inspirations for his own work are among the more problematic of the doctor-writers I've read, but disappointing at best.
March 17, 2019
A collection of stories from the night shift on call service
A varied collection of poorly people, some genuine, some sad, some who can't be bothered to make an appointment and think it's their right to call out the on call services for something that could be dealt with during the day. An interesting insight into a service we all hope we won't need but all hope will be there when we do
A varied collection of poorly people, some genuine, some sad, some who can't be bothered to make an appointment and think it's their right to call out the on call services for something that could be dealt with during the day. An interesting insight into a service we all hope we won't need but all hope will be there when we do
August 21, 2018
Interesting & fabulous read
This is such a good read - I really couldn’t put the book / kindle down!!! Absolutely recommend especially if you enjoy all confessions series!! :)
Makes you think about the NHS state as it is today and to be completely have a blonde moment I didn’t even realise the was out of hours GPs who knew but again fantastic read and must buy!!!
This is such a good read - I really couldn’t put the book / kindle down!!! Absolutely recommend especially if you enjoy all confessions series!! :)
Makes you think about the NHS state as it is today and to be completely have a blonde moment I didn’t even realise the was out of hours GPs who knew but again fantastic read and must buy!!!
June 21, 2020
Very enlightening book, talks you though what out of hours GP's go through and what type of home visits they have to attend and patients they see in the practice (porter cabin), everything from a man leaving wax to dry too long on his arm pits, kids that are high and deaths.
Interesting read and a real eye opener.
Interesting read and a real eye opener.
September 6, 2020
Funny and entertaining
Highly recommend this book. Very much like 'this is going to hurt'. So interesting and easy to read that I finished the book in a day.
Anyone living in England and works in NHS would identify with some aspects of this book. Otherwise would also find it equally or more interesting!
Highly recommend this book. Very much like 'this is going to hurt'. So interesting and easy to read that I finished the book in a day.
Anyone living in England and works in NHS would identify with some aspects of this book. Otherwise would also find it equally or more interesting!
November 15, 2020
An insight into the average (not that there probably is an average) night for an out of hours GP. Quite interesting and no doubt it must be a thankless job at times between the really needed callouts but I found it difficult to get past the judgmental tone/attitude that frequently popped up (and it's a very short book so that's saying something).
May 19, 2021
On-call but not on target
This book, although short, was written with warmth and honesty. It wasn't funny or particularly interesting, but I enjoyed finding out about the on-call doctor service in the UK. With some more engaging stories and less ranting it might get a larger audience.
This book, although short, was written with warmth and honesty. It wasn't funny or particularly interesting, but I enjoyed finding out about the on-call doctor service in the UK. With some more engaging stories and less ranting it might get a larger audience.
June 5, 2018
Night Doctor
Not as interesting as I thought this would be, funny in parts but not enough to laugh out loud, sad for the Doctors who have to do the job but they chose their occupation and I wonder how much they were told would happen on their first night duties.
Not as interesting as I thought this would be, funny in parts but not enough to laugh out loud, sad for the Doctors who have to do the job but they chose their occupation and I wonder how much they were told would happen on their first night duties.
June 10, 2018
Good
Look forward to reading the next book . Some of these really do make your mind ask why are people being like that. What have we become over time that we now demand everything day or night
Look forward to reading the next book . Some of these really do make your mind ask why are people being like that. What have we become over time that we now demand everything day or night
June 30, 2018
Inside a Drs night shift!
Fantastic mix of night time ailments faced by many. Some heartbreaking moments with an even balance of tongue in cheek humour. A good read that shows our Drs are human too.
Fantastic mix of night time ailments faced by many. Some heartbreaking moments with an even balance of tongue in cheek humour. A good read that shows our Drs are human too.
December 30, 2018
In reality, this is an entertaining series of brief stories of cases handled by an overnight call out GP in London. It is interesting and lightweight and for me it was good summer reading while the turkey, ham and plum pud was digesting.
March 1, 2020
Flat reading
The book is written in a language accessible to the broader public but it feels flat under many points. It is good at conveying the reality of OOH services but lack in emotional engagement and narrative details.
The book is written in a language accessible to the broader public but it feels flat under many points. It is good at conveying the reality of OOH services but lack in emotional engagement and narrative details.
July 8, 2022
Interesting
This book describes a service the National Health Service in England offers -- medical visits in the night time from physicians as well as night time visits by doctors and over the phone consultations. You'll either like this book or not -- I liked it.
This book describes a service the National Health Service in England offers -- medical visits in the night time from physicians as well as night time visits by doctors and over the phone consultations. You'll either like this book or not -- I liked it.
February 19, 2013
didn't enjoy this. very short and very average
February 21, 2013
Really Short read so read in 2 days.
April 25, 2015
Nice content but far too short, last 10% is a sample of another book by the same publisher.
February 26, 2018
Very enjoyable
Very enjoyable but just too short. I would have loved to continued to read more of this very well written book
Very enjoyable but just too short. I would have loved to continued to read more of this very well written book
June 2, 2018
I really enjoyed this but it was just too short! I smashed it out in a couple of hours and was left wanting more. Well done to the writer - hope there’s a follow on...
October 22, 2018
This book was decent, but incredibly, ridiculously short. I read it for free; if I’d paid for it, I would probably only give it one star.
March 13, 2019
Doctor on call
This book was much shorter than I had hoped. A good read but did feel there was a lot of passing the buck involved.
This book was much shorter than I had hoped. A good read but did feel there was a lot of passing the buck involved.
May 11, 2019
Boring
Too dry for words. No real plot. Did not enjoy this this a bit. Keep on trying, you might succeed.
Too dry for words. No real plot. Did not enjoy this this a bit. Keep on trying, you might succeed.
Read
August 23, 2019Good read
I love true life medical stories. And finding out about Our of hours Doctors was fascinating. I loved the stories about the patients and their conditions
I love true life medical stories. And finding out about Our of hours Doctors was fascinating. I loved the stories about the patients and their conditions
September 1, 2020
Another enjoyable fly on the wall and ruminations about NHS life with stories and reflections short enough to give a sense impression of the lives they discuss.
October 30, 2020
Ok
Not too bad I was hoping for much more excitment to be honest the stories were boring not great tbh
Not too bad I was hoping for much more excitment to be honest the stories were boring not great tbh
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews