Trust Me, I'm a (Junior) Doctor Paperback – 7 Aug. 2008

A truthful., really funny, often poignant and at times heart breaking view of the first year for a junior Doctor. As a nurse who has spent years getting used to the `new batch` twice a year (and dreading it ) I found it illuminating reading from the other perspective, identifying with so many of the circumstances described. I also appreciated Max's observations on nursing.it's an enjoyable easy read full of chuckles .

We will all pass through a hospital at some time in our lives and many will, like with any profession dedicate many years of work and study. This is a great read whichever side of the hospital bed you are on. It describes the student like lifestyle of these young professionals and the deep end learning that they are thrust into. The book is now a bit dated so it shouldn't be read entirely as a literal account of how things are today. Unusually for such a light read it does stir some powerful emotions in between the amusement. The book maintains interest through the people in the book other than the author, so it is hard to put down. The author writes humorously and engagingly but yet looks for meaning and purpose to what he is doing. To that end he gets on his soapbox a bit which he is entitled to do but at time he wrote this objected to nurse prescribing on the basis that they didn't have his training on how the drugs actually work. This surprises me that he held this view when the book details at length unfinished meals, drinks and conversations. Surely degree qualified nurses working in their specialist areas, with years of experience, shouldn't need to defer to a newly and broadly trained, tired and over_stretched junior doctor in this matter?Whilst I enjoyed this book, I am not yet convinced that his follow up books will be as good as can be the case with sequels and those difficult second albums. I am happy to receive comments.

What truth told through humour, curiosity and the shock of being immersed in an alien system.Reading the book immediately after "Man's Search for Meaning" made the story much more profound: it became the lens through which I examined these stories. It became apparent that seeing the facts in such a light would never be possible again. As time passes, and careers progress, the system produces a lethargy and apathy, as its incapability to change is demonstrated. At the Junior Doctor stage, when the the anomalies that occur scream out to be addressed, the powerlessness associated with having no voice comes across very strongly.For people who really want to understand what the problem is with the NHS, this book defines some key problems with clarity. Again, following "Man's Search for Meaning" it is psychologically understandable that senior members of the profession have become apathetic about their ability to change the system.For Politicians - the message is clear: There are huge areas that need to be addressed: doctors require to be empowered to correct a failing system.For Doctors, who have permitted the emergence of the all-powerful manager, this is a wake up call.It could not be made more obvious that Management and Doctors have different goals.How can this be efficient and effective?Although many of his anecdotes are a humorous account of his first hospital experience, his perception his astounding at times. Problems are carefully and compactly explained, and analysed. Legislation, and the problems it has created, questioned.He correctly identified many problems, yet we are now 7 years on from the original publication,Who has listened?Who has seen?Worrying.

Forget medical soap operas on television - which are FICTION - this is the real thing. Max Pemberton documented his real-life first year as a junior doctor (as it happened, I think) in a series of columns for the "Daily Telegraph", and since then they have been collected together into this book, told in a "Dear Diary"-style format.Max has just finished six years of medical school, and is about to start his first year as a junior doctor in an NHS hospital. He is still a very young man, and he is terrified. Along with all the other junior doctors he has to spend six months in surgery and six months in medicine, and then apply for his "real" job at the end. He doesn't yet know what that is going to be. Over the next twelve months he is involved in a lot of death and dying (I could never do his job), discovers what hideous or simply lonely lives some people have, and has to become very mature within this twelve-month period in a way most of today's soft and pampered citizens don't have to be.He is a very lively storyteller, and there are flashes of humour observing the Lothario senior doctor, the mad medical secretaries, and the patient with a hairbrush up his rectum (and some Lego as well.) They're really only there to relieve the tension. It's quite an impact discovering this world reading about it; experiencing it first hand would have hit with quite a wallop.Sometimes he spends a page railing against the idiocies of politicians, medical administrators, and dodgy NHS consultants who hinder health, rather than help. He spends more time berating himself for keeping quiet and not causing trouble. And there are times when he is literally in tears, and my heart wrenched for him.

As a former junior hospital doctor, I found this is mildly interesting but not commanding - perhaps it might appeal more to non medical readers. The writer overplays how tiring the work is - but modern day JHDs have an easier time than my generation had - back in 1976 I was occasionally on continuous 24 hour call for a fortnight when someone else was on holiday. Wouldn't be allowed now!

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, poignant (reflecting the real hardships the junior doctor faces in the 1st year) and deeply concerning with regard to how EU meddling (Working Hours Directive) and British Government's cut-backs in Health Care (packaged as Efficiency improvements) effect the NHS and ultimately us, the patients. The book is very hard to put down. A highly recommended read!

Great read

Very witty and relateable experience. I would definitely recommend to anyone considering the medical profession as a career option. Couldn't stop reading or laughing.

o.k.-isch but repetitive and too much about UK-national healthy system

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